Dear friends, Here ia a news item for your information. Regards, Nava Thakuria
Human Rights Activists to Protest AFSPA in Manipur Luit Neil Don 10 September 2007, Monday (http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=126286) HUNDREDS OF human rights activists from all over the country as well as from neighbouring Asian nations will assemble in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, from September 13 to 15 to protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA), and in support of Irom Sharmila Chanus ongoing struggle against the law. Sapamcha Jadumani, president of the Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF), said that the solidarity fast is being organised to demand the complete repeal of the AFSPA and to garner support for Sharmila. Thirty-seven-year old Sharmila is a woman activist of Meitei Manipuri community, and is known for her campaign against the controversial AFSPA. Sharmila had gone on hunger strike on November 2, 2000 demanding the repeal of the AFSPA, after soldiers of the Assam Rifles allegedly killed ten young Meitei men in Malom. Three days later, police arrested Sharmila on charges of "attempted suicide", because suicide or attempted suicide is a criminal offence under Indian law. She was later remanded to judicial custody. To keep her alive, she was forcefully fed a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, laxatives, protein supplements and lentil soup through the nose with a rubber pipe. Eminent social scientist and Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey will also attend the three day protest, organised by the National Alliance of Peoples Movement and the Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF). One of the founder members of Asha (a non-profit organisation for Education), Mr Pandey was awarded with the Asian Nobel in 2002 in the category of Emergent Leadership for his work towards the uplift of the poor and the underprivileged in India. An engineering graduate from the prestigious University of Berkeley, Pandey later used to teach at IIT Kanpur, but he soon shifted his endeavor to bring hope for the underprivileged sections of the society. Dr Sandeep Pandey will also attend an interaction programme with the journalists at the Guwahati Press Club on September 12, informed GPC secretary Nava Thakuria. Several human rights organisations from across the country, as well as NRI groups from abroad, are also backing this programme. The Peace Coalition of People of South Asia, Friends of South Asia, NRIs for a Secular and Harmonious India, Pakistani organisations, Peoples Development Foundation, Indus Valley Theatre Group, and Institute for Peace and Secular Studies have endorsed the solidarity protest. Among Indian organisations, the Asha Parivar, National Campaign for Peoples Right to Information, Right to Food Campaign, Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, JK, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights, Ekta, Peoples Union for Human Rights, Gene Campaign, Insaf, Lokraj Sangathan, Hind Navjawan Ekta Sabha, All India Catholic Union, All India Progressive Women Association, All India Students Association, Forum for Democratic Initiatives, and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) have extended their support.
_______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
