NEDF calls for repeal of AFSPA as a ‘matter of urgency’

Imphal, May 28 (MExN): The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) has urged the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 “as a matter of urgency” from the states in North East of the Indian sub-continent.

Citing India’s general discourse on reactions to such calls for repeal, the NEDF reminded the country that the 80 countries had supported the repeal of AFSPA at the Universal Periodic Review of India by the United Nations in 2012. “Are these countries anti-national?” questioned a press statement from the NEDF, signed by PBM Basaiwmoit from Meghalaya, Girin Chetia from Assam, Anthony Debbarma from Tripura and U Nabakishore from Manipur.

The AFSPA has been repeatedly recommended repeal by several national and international commissions and organisations but no avail.

Militarised schools

Children of the region have been facing the brunt as schools continue to be militarised.
According to statistics given by the NEDF, army camps are located inside 78 schools, colleges and even inside the University of Manipur. There are many others located within very close distance from schools and colleges.
 
As per the Safe Schools Declaration, an inter-governmental political commitment, that was opened for endorsement by countries at an international conference held in Oslo, Norway, in 2015, countries were given the opportunity to express political support for the protection of students, teachers, and schools during time of armed conflict; the importance of the continuation of education during armed conflict; and the implementation of the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military Use during Armed Conflict.

 India has not endorsed this declaration till date.
 
Repeal recommendations

The NEDF called upon the Prime Minister of India to “respect and implement” the recommendations made by Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission report (2005), Justice Shantosh Hedge Report (2013), Justice Verma Commission report (2013), and Administrative Reforms Commission report.

It also reminded Amnesty International’s statement that “AFSPA is Undeclared Emergency with Undefined Reasons for Unlimited period of Time” (1997) and Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission Report (2005) stated that “AFSPA become a Symbol of Oppression, an object of hate and instrument of discrimination and high handedness.”

Moreover, the High Commissioner of UN Human Rights Council, Navi Pillay, Christof Hans, Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Summary or Arbitrary Execution, and Rashida Manjoo, the former UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women have all spoken out against the AFSPA.

Acknowledgments

The NEDF acknowledged the “courage and political commitment” of BJP and CPI (M) to lift AFSPA from Tripura State in 2015. They also thanked the “spirit” of the Indian Congress Government in Manipur to lift the AFSPA from the seven constituencies in Imphal. They appreciated the “political courage” of the Govt. of India for “not placing AFSPA, 1958 in Jharkhand, Chhattigarh and other areas which are affected by the armed conflict in India.”

Further, the NEDF acknowledged and appreciated commitment of armed State and Non-State actors to protect the lives of civilians during battles as has been experienced in the last two years.