Press release – Tripura is a start , #AFSPA must go from everywhere
PRESS RELEASE
TRIPURA IS START, AFSPA MUST GO FROM EVERYWHERE: SSSC
Announcement of Repeal AFSPA from Tripura is a welcome move. We, at Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, convey our sincere thanks to Govt of Tripura as well as MHA for considering the move. We believe that repeal of AFSPA from Tripura is a decision in favor of democracy and humanity.
Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) view this incident as 'moving from inertia of AFSPA'. It is because since many years and even after continuous demands by people and rights groups, AFSPA was not even diluted a bit. No government or security agencies have taken any positive steps towards its repeal and were isolated from this issue. No one in the government even wanted to talk about the issue and those who were in government never tried to break the ice and ignored people's demand.
As, SSSC had already stated in several other campaigning moments, AFSPA does not have people's mandate. We also believe that by breaking this inertia, there is a signal of something positive. A start was awaited.
As Tripura is one of the states of North East region of India, repealing AFSPA from this state also sends a message of confidence and hope among all other people who are residing in AFSPA zone presently. We also see that this start must become dynamic very soon and governments must try to repeal it from every where.
We demand with the government to immediately pay attention towards Manipur also where Irom Sharmila is on a continuous fast since the last 15 years. Keeping AFSPA in Manipur is against the will and future of state. We demand with state and central government both to coordinate and cooperate with each other to end the impasse over AFSPA. For Manipur, state leadership of central ruled patry was already promised repeal of AFSPA.
SSSC believes that AFSPA that was extended to J&K vide AFSPA-J&K, should also be repealed as victimisation and sufferings cannot be looked separately. A human rights violation is always a violation of human rights regardless of region. in J&K, so many incidents of killings, rapes and disappeances have already been reported and evidences were provided even before courts against many security officials, but due to impunity under AFSPA (section 7), nothing could be done against culprits.
SSSC also see that enjoying such an impunity that AFSPA provides is actually a corruption and it is absolutely not required for any responsible , honest and committed security force personals. In contrary, it becomes dangerous as such absolute powers divert the normal way of working of personals.
SSSC appeals with the state and central government to immediately act upon this long pending demand of Repeal AFSPA. AFSPA is not required not only in Tripura but in no other AFSPA state. AFSPA is a failed law.
SSSC will continue its efforts and will be organising protests and active campaigning in coming months for advocating Repeal of AFSPA from every where.
Press Release issued by
Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign
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