> > *Call for a Nationwide Protest* > > * > * > > *Repeal AFSPA, Free Sharmila * > > * > * > > * > * > > *NOW!!!* > > * > * > > Let us raise our voice > > > > Beginning May 22, 2011 > > > > the day the Indian Parliament promulgated the ordinance in 1958 > > * > * > > *Taking our struggle upto August 18, * > > > > the day the Indian Parliament passed Act in 1958 > > * * > > * * > > Dear friends, > > > Perhaps you are aware that the hunger fast of Irom Sharmila Chanu has > crossed 10 years, with a demand for repeal of AFSPA (Armed Forces Special > Powers Act, 1958. She has been force fed through her nose by the Government, > arrested with charges for attempt to commit suicide, criminalised as a high > security prisoner, denying her access to family, friends, supporters and the > media. It is a shame that in this land of Gandhi, a non-violent protester > has been subjected to such humiliation for more than ten years. Globally, in > the history of non-violent resistance, this struggle is unmatched in > terms of its resilence and sustaining power. > > The draconian act of AFSPA has been implemented in North eastern states of > India since 1958 and in Jammu and Kashmir since 1991. It was on May 22, > 1958, that the AFSPA was promulgated in the north east as an ordinance. This > law is more draconian than its predecessor ordinance used by the British to > suppress the Quit India Movement. It gave extraordinary powers to members > of the armed forces, to arrest without warrant and shoot to kill on the > basis of suspicion; and no legal action can be taken up against the armed > forces without prior sanction from the Centre. After a brief discussion, the > Parliament endorsed the ordinance an Act on August 18, 1958, despite stiff > resistance from various qurters who challenged it as a martial law. Needless > to say, that with the pretension of controlling insurgence, this Act has > only intensified the insurgency in the region and legitimised thousands of > gross human rights violations like rape, torture, murder and > “disappearances” of innocent people in the north east. The democratic > movements in the north east have consistently demanded the repeal of the Act > for decades. In solidarity, we, the People’s Union for Civil Liberties > (PUCL) hereby call to all democratic forums, human rights groups and > people’s movements to initiate various public protest actions from May 22 to > August 18, demanding immediate repeal of AFSPA, in solidarity with Irom > Sharmila. > > > > AFSPA is not only opposed by the civil society groups but also by the > Government’s own commissions and committees appointed to look into the > matter. For example, the Committee to Review the Armed Forces Special Powers > Act, headed by Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy in 2005, the Administrative > Reforms Commission headed by Dr. Veerappan Moily in 2007 and several others > have recommended its repeal. Internationally, the UN bodies including the > Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the U N High > Commissioner for Human Rights and recently the UN Special Rapporteur on > Human Rights Defenders have consistently urged for its repeal. However, all > these went to the deaf ears of the Government. > > We hereby strongly condemn the use of our tax payers’ money for the > militarisation of the civic spaces within the country. We recognise that if > the struggle of Irom Sharmila fails, it will be a failure of the entire > democratic movements in this country as well as a deep scar on Indian > democracy for generations. Therefore, in the wake of the 54th year of > imposition of AFSPA, we appeal to all human rights groups, social and > political activist groups, people’s movements and NGOs to initiate the > following public protest actions demanding the repeal of AFSPA in solidarity > with Irom Sharmila, during May 22 to August 18, 2011: > > 1. Public protests, dharnas, relay hunger fasts in your area > > 2. Organise public meetings and seminars on AFSPA and Irom Sharmila > demanding the repeal of AFSPA > > 3. Organise performances of the one woman play `Le mashale’ on Irom > Sharmila by Ojas S.V. > > 4. Organise painting exhibitions on Irom Sharmila. The exhibition can > be downloaded from: > http://www.e-pao.net/epGallery.asp?id=1&src=AFSPA_Related/Neogene201102 > > 5. Organise film screening programmes on AFSPA and Irom Sharmila. > Copies of the video films are available from: email: [email protected] > phone: 011-26517814 > > 6. Initiate public signature campaigns and send them to the Prime > Minister, the Defence Minister, the Law Minster, the Home Minister and the > National Human Rights Commission > > 7. Initiate statements by well known writers, intellectuals, film > personalities, theatre people, musicians and other artists > > 8. Any other form of action that you may find appropriate to > strengthen the democracy of this country > > We request you to publicise your action through the internet and mass media > and send the reports of your actions to: [email protected] > > > Yours Sincerely, > > > *Pushkar Raj* (General Secretary), *People’s Union of Civil Liberties > (PUCL)* > > **09810656100, "pushkar raj" <[email protected]>, > > > You can also contact Babloo of Human Rights Alert Manipur for the latest > situation on Manipur: "Babloo Loitongbam" <[email protected]>, > 09862008838 > > > you can also contact the following for more information and coordination > > > *Kavita Srivastava *: 09351562965, 0141-2594131 [email protected], > [email protected] > > > *V Suresh,* 09444231497 : "suresh v" <[email protected]>, > > > *Chittranjan Singh*: 09415249770: "Chitaranjan Singh" < > [email protected]>, > > > *Mahipal Singh:* 09312206414 "Mahi Pal Singh" <[email protected] > >, > > Organisations are requested to issue the appeal further so that there can > be a widespread involvement of other campaigns and individuals. > -- > Kavita Srivastava > (General Secretary) PUCL Rajasthan > > Address for correspondence : > > 76, Shanti Niketan Colony, Kisan Marg, Barkat Nagar, Jaipur-302015 > Tel. 0141-2594131 > mobile: 9351562965 > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > Groups "RTFC-Expanded-Steering-group" group. > To post to this group, send email to > [email protected] > > > > -- > Kavita Srivastava > (General Secretary) PUCL Rajasthan > > Address for correspondence : > > 76, Shanti Niketan Colony, Kisan Marg, Barkat Nagar, Jaipur-302015 > Tel. 0141-2594131 > mobile: 9351562965 >
-- Kavita Srivastava (General Secretary) PUCL Rajasthan Address for correspondence : 76, Shanti Niketan Colony, Kisan Marg, Barkat Nagar, Jaipur-302015 Tel. 0141-2594131 mobile: 9351562965 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To post to this group, send 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/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
