from [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dear friends,
We'll be launching a nationwide campaign to protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers' Act. IN 6 CITIES on 5TH MARCH 2005, SATURDAY. PLEASE FORWARD THIS MAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS WHOEVER YOU KNOW. LETS COME TOGETHER AND RAISE OUR VOICES OF FREEDOM AGAINST THIS DRACONIAN ACT. THEY HAVE GUNS AND POWER ,THERE IS NOTHING WE NEED TO BE AFRAID OF THEM. WE TOO HAVE POWER AND WEAPONS viz WEAPONS OF TRUTH AND POWER OF COMPASSION THAT LAY THE FOUNDATION OF FREE WORLD. There will be a sit- in protest in Delhi. Six cities is going to protest against this draconian - Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Pune, New Delhi, Chennai and Imphal. Background: AFSPA,1958, allows the security forces powers to use excessive forces, including to shoot to kill without members of the security force lives being at imminent risk, facilitates grave human rights violation, empower the security forces to arrest and enter property without warrant, facilitates impunity because no person can start legal action against any member of the armed forces for anything done under the Act without permission of the Central Government ; by certain of its provisions violates articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR), including Articles 6,9 and 14. These articles include, but are not limited to, Articles 6(1) which states "every human being has the inherent right to life" and Article 9(1) which states "no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention". Campaign: Lets come together to give one voice of freedom against this draconian Act and urge the government to repeal this Act. Simultaneously campaign will happen in six cities on 5TH MARCH, 2005. Regards Vasudha Sondhi Admin. Officer Amnesty International India C 161, 4th Floor, Hemkunt House Gautam Nagar (Behind Indian Oil Building/Gulmohar commercial Complex) New Delhi - 110 049 Ph: 51642501 / 26854763 / 26510202
