*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* BHRPC Statement, October 20, 2011
* * *BHRPC condemns attack on anti-AFSPA campaigners <http://wp.me/phKmE-cP>* Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) is shocked at the reports of attack on the campaigners against the Armed Forces (Special Power) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) and strongly condemns the incident and the anti-democratic fascist mindset displayed by the attackers on the peaceful protestors. It is reported that when a large number of students mainly from the North East Indian states joined the Save Sharmila Solidarity Group at the north campus of Delhi University as a part of the Srinagar-to-Imphal Yatra demanding repeal of the AFSPA miscreants created nuisance at the rally pelting stones and tomatoes. Several students sustained injuries due to stone pelting. It is also alleged that in spite of information provided, the Delhi police arrived late in the scene and did not make any arrest of the alleged attackers but instead denied permission to hold the peaceful rally any further. It is to be mentioned that the 4,500 km long Srinagar-to-Imphal Yatra is being carried out to make common people aware of the draconian, anti-democratic and anti-human rights provisions of AFSPA applicable in the North Eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir. The rally is being joined by several social activists of national fame such as Medha Patkar, Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey, National Alliance of People’s Movement leader Faisal Khan, Irom Sharmila’s brother Irom Singhajit and Parveena Ahangar of the Association of Disappeared Persons. BHRPC believes that the attack is a blatant violation of, and an assault on, the basic fundamental rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly committed with tacit support of the police. The incident displays the discriminatory attitude, anti-democratic and fascist mindset of the authorities and a section of the people towards the North Eastern people. The AFSPA is the legislative embodiment of that attitude and mindset. Both the attitude and mindset, and the statute is dangerous for democracy, rule of law and human rights in India. They do not have a legitimate place in a democratic India. BHRPC urges the authorities to take appropriate actions under the law against the alleged attackers and make arrangements for the protection of the human rights defenders campaigning against the AFSPA. Waliullah Ahmed Laskar Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) Guwahati, Assam 20 October 2011 The statement can be found at http://wp.me/phKmE-cP -- W A Laskar Independent Journalist and Human Rights Defender with Barak Human Rights Protection Committee <http://bhrpc.wordpress.com/>, http://bhrpc.wordpress.com 15, Panjabari Road, Darandha, Six Mile, Guwahati-781037, Assam, India Cell: +919401942234 Visit my blog <http://www.rightspeaks.blogspot.com> at www.rightspeaks.blogspot.com Skype: rights.defender -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
