From: mukta srivastava <muktaliberated@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Oct 9, 2011 at 10:50 PM
Subject: [initiative-india] Irom Sharmila solidarity campaign meeting 10th October 2011, 6 P.M at Shantashram
Irom Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, Mumbai
Call for solidarity and support to struggles working against AFSPA
Armed Forces Special Powers Act, a colonial legacy used against Mahatma Gandhi, was promulgated initially in the Naga areas of Assam (later divided between 4 states) and later in Mizoram, initially in parts of Manipur and later in all of Manipur. The Ordinance after a brief discussion in the Parliament was endorsed and got the status of Act on August 18, 1958, despite stiff resistance from various quarters who challenged it as a martial and draconian law. Since then it has been in force in one part or the other of the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir (since 1991). Even though continuation of the 'disturbed area' status under the AFSPA in many part of the country is illegal in view of the violation of the mandatory six monthly periodic review directed by Supreme Court in its 1997 Judgement.
AFSPA continues to be the most potent repressive tool of the Indian state that empowers even a non commissioned officer of the armed forces of union to kill on mere suspicion and provide legal immunity from prosecution, thereby causing untold misery and agony among the peoples of the affected regions.The imposition of AFSPA is synonymous to heavy militarisation in these states leading to gross civil and political rights violations including enforced disappearances, extra-judicial execution, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, rape and other forms of sexual violence against women, arbitrary arrest and detention.
This law is more draconian than its predecessor ordinance used by the British to suppress the Quit India Movement. In the pretext of controlling insurgency, this Act has only intensified the insurgency in the region and legitimised thousands of gross human rights violations like rape, torture, murder and "disappearances" of innocent people in the North East and J&K. The democratic movements in the North East and J&K have consistently demanded the repeal of the Act and demilitarisation for decades.
People's movements all across North-East and J and K and other parts of India have been struggling for repeal of this draconian Act. Relentless struggle for last one decade by Manipur people's movement led by Irom Sharmila one of the struggles known to us. There are many more struggles on this issue.
In Solidarity and support to struggle against Arm Forces Special Power Act various programme and action are being held Across states of India under the banner of Irom Sharmila Solidairy Campaign .
It is important that we in Mumbai and Maharashtra support all the struggles campaigning for repeal of AFSPA.
Let us come and our heads together to plan a solidarity action during the October to December period in Mumbai and if possible other parts of Maharashtra too.
After 27th September 2011 meeting discussion with some of you we planning a meeting at Shanta Ashram ( Bombay Sarvodya Mandal ), Grant Road West on 10th October 2011, at 6 pm.
Please do join us... please confirm your participation...
Zindabad
Mukta Srivastava , GG Parikh, Sukla Sen, Daniel Mazgoankar, Asad , Shimanshu, Suhas Kolhekar, Simpreet Singh, Jatin Desai, Guddi S.L
Contact: Mukta Srivastava - 9969530060, Guddi - 9869059860
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Palash Biswas
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