Imphal, March 14: Mobilization for support from members of the Parliament is needed for repealing the Armed Forces (Special) Power Act, 1958, MLA O Joy of Manipur People Party (MPP) observed speaking at the concluding function of the Gandhi to Sharmila campaign here at Manipur Press Club, Major Khul today.

For the repeal of the act, MPs of the Parliament needs to be mobilized apart from adopting a resolution by the house of Manipur Legislative Assembly, O joy said urging the people to convince the MLAs of the state Assembly assuring that he is ready to move a motion with regard to the repeal of the Act in the house at any time.

The lone fasting stir launching by Sharmila is a rare historic gift. Under the Act many cruel incidents had occurred in the state. That is why, people of Manipur got the support of other section of the people from both India and aboard, he observed.

Security forces are becoming for cruel under the Armed Forces (Special) Power Act, 1958 is well known across the globe. That is why, they are extending solidarity to the demand of the people of the Manipur to repeal the Act, he reiterated.

The Gandhi to Sharmila campaign was launched by the Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) in association with Just for Peace Manipur.

The campaign began on January 30 last concluded Sunday after covering 23 cities of Asia including cities of India with the grass root organization of Manipur, Wide Angle sent open letter to the parliamentarian of both houses showing solidarity to the Sharmila’s fasting struggle to repeal the Act from the entire state of Manipur.
Irom Sharmila has been on a hunger strike demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 following the massacre of 10 civilians by the Armed Forces on 2 November 2000.

O Joy, announcing his stance of not compromising with his support to repeal of the Act, said he is feeling shame when the matter was never discuss in the house of the Manipur Assembly. MLA RK Anand who also attended the function expressed dissatisfaction when 19 opposition members of the Assembly could not take a unanimous decision and push the government to repeal the Act.

“A political will is a must to press the Parliament for repealing the Act. For this all opposition members of the Assembly should unite in moving a motion to adopt a resolution,” he said observing for a join effort of the MLAs and Parliamentarians of the north east to unite for pushing the Centre in repealing the Act.

The Act is for not breaking the integrity of India but putting people of the region in such a state, putting under the boots of the security forces for the integrity of the country is not a right step, he went on to observed.

Yambem Laba while participating the panel discussion observed that the incidents of threatening individuals and government officials with bombs and guns is part of counter revolutionary should be known by all.

The campaign was to gather support of Sharmila's struggle and to demand the repeal of AFSPA which the Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005), the Administrative Reform Commission headed by the present Union Law Minster Dr Veerappa Moilly and the Working Group on Confidence Building Measures headed by the present Vice President Mr. Hamid Ansari have consistently recommended to repeal of Act.
An Armed Forces Special Powers Amendment Bill 2009 was listed for discussion in the last winter session of the parliament, but it was not brought up for discussion. We are expecting that the matter will come up during the budget session of the Parliament starting from 22 February 2010, but so far this does not happen, lamented Babloo Loitongbam of the Just Peace Foundation.

Hueiyen News Service