Armed Forces Special Powers Act Repeal
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Government of India
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Petition for the Repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act
For 46 years millions of people living in Indias Northeast have been forced to live under virtual army rule. They have faced daily humiliation, arbitrary arrests, rapes, and custodial murders by branches of the Indian armed forces, without any possibility of redress. This state of affairs has been sanctioned by a draconian legislation called the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which has been on the statute books in various forms since 1958, when it was introduced to help crush secessionist movements in the Northeast. It is currently in operation in large parts of the Northeast as well as Jammu and Kashmir.
Under this Act a non-commissioned army officer of the lowest rank has the power to shoot to kill anybody, to enter and destroy any building and to arrest anyone without a warrant. The officer needs no permission from a superior, is not answerable to anyone, and does not have to justify his action to anyone. Under this Act the affected people have no right to approach the court for redress.
In effect, the Act has made the people subject to its extraordinary power second-class citizens of the country, who do not even on paper, enjoy the constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms supposed to be the due of every citizen.
The latest atrocities committed by the armed forces under the protection of this Act in the state of Manipur have been the killing of Zamkholet Khongsai, a 60 year old pastor, on 8th July, followed by the brutal rape and murder of 32 year old Manorama on 11 July. In the wake of these incidents there have been widespread protests against the AFSPA in Manipur, which still continue. Hundreds of people, including elderly women and students, have been arrested in the protests, and sent to jail. Unmoved by this display of public anger, the Central Government has been pressing the Manipur State Government for more repression on the protesters.
The demand for the repeal of the Act is an old one, and the current protests have a long history. In fact, for the past 45 months a young Manipuri woman, Irom Sharmila, has become a symbol of this struggle. Sharmila is on a fast-unto-death, demanding the withdrawal of this Act. She has been forcibly fed in hospital, under judicial custody, all this while.
A country that calls itself a democracy cannot sanction a part of its people living under legalized martial law for almost six decades. We join the people of Manipur in opposing this Act. We demand that it be withdrawn from the entire country and be repealed.
For 46 years millions of people living in Indias Northeast have been forced to live under virtual army rule. They have faced daily humiliation, arbitrary arrests, rapes, and custodial murders by branches of the Indian armed forces, without any possibility of redress. This state of affairs has been sanctioned by a draconian legislation called the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which has been on the statute books in various forms since 1958, when it was introduced to help crush secessionist movements in the Northeast. It is currently in operation in large parts of the Northeast as well as Jammu and Kashmir.
Under this Act a non-commissioned army officer of the lowest rank has the power to shoot to kill anybody, to enter and destroy any building and to arrest anyone without a warrant. The officer needs no permission from a superior, is not answerable to anyone, and does not have to justify his action to anyone. Under this Act the affected people have no right to approach the court for redress.
In effect, the Act has made the people subject to its extraordinary power second-class citizens of the country, who do not even on paper, enjoy the constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms supposed to be the due of every citizen.
The latest atrocities committed by the armed forces under the protection of this Act in the state of Manipur have been the killing of Zamkholet Khongsai, a 60 year old pastor, on 8th July, followed by the brutal rape and murder of 32 year old Manorama on 11 July. In the wake of these incidents there have been widespread protests against the AFSPA in Manipur, which still continue. Hundreds of people, including elderly women and students, have been arrested in the protests, and sent to jail. Unmoved by this display of public anger, the Central Government has been pressing the Manipur State Government for more repression on the protesters.
The demand for the repeal of the Act is an old one, and the current protests have a long history. In fact, for the past 45 months a young Manipuri woman, Irom Sharmila, has become a symbol of this struggle. Sharmila is on a fast-unto-death, demanding the withdrawal of this Act. She has been forcibly fed in hospital, under judicial custody, all this while.
A country that calls itself a democracy cannot sanction a part of its people living under legalized martial law for almost six decades. We join the people of Manipur in opposing this Act. We demand that it be withdrawn from the entire country and be repealed.
671 Signatures
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M. R. Q
- Occupation
- Engineer
- Country
- Originally India, now USA
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Esha S
- Occupation
- Researcher
- Country
- India
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M. S
- Occupation
- academic
- Country
- USA
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Sarfaraz M
- Occupation
- IT Industry
- Country
- Mumbai, India
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Neri-Kaiser
- Country
- Germany
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Manoj G
- Comments
- It is a total shame that the govt of India, instead of upholding the virtues of democracy.. is degrading it. Surely, no rationale can be atttributed to the fact that this can be allowed to continue in the name of law. The army is there to protect the rights of people not abuse it. This is one worthless piece of legislation that the country can do without.
- Occupation
- Software Consultant
- Country
- India
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MUKUNDAN C. M
- Comments
- AFSPA : A mock legality for Military Rule, if not Military Dictatorship, in place of Constitutional Rule of Law. Such an obnoxious and draconian law cannot co-exist within a democratic system of governance.
- Occupation
- HR Activist and Journalist
- Country
- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, KERALA, SOUTH INDIA
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Muhen K
- Occupation
- Soft Skills Trainer
- Country
- India
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M R
- Country
- UK
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Jairaj A. P
- Occupation
- Medical Science Liaison
- Country
- USA
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Raman
- Comments
- В
- Occupation
- В
- Country
- В
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Mohammed A. H
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Merci L. A
- Comments
- В
- Occupation
- В
- Country
- Philippines
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Ritesh P
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Michaela И
- Occupation
- student
- Country
- The Czech Republic
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Kanwal
- Country
- The Netherlands
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Anu
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Michelle L
- Country
- Philippines
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Shoko O
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Nagraj A
- Occupation
- Journalist
- Country
- India
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Imtiazuddin
- Comments
- I am an NRI from India; I appeal to GOI to repeal this act which allows violation of human rights and dignity of its citizens bypassing the due process of civil law and social justice..
- Country
- USA
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YP C
- Comments
- This law is a mini Emergency
- Occupation
- Activist
- Country
- India
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Hema
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Mythri R
- Occupation
- Student
- Country
- India
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Pablo N
- Comments
- A documentary on the Manipur tragedy was exhibited this weekend as part of the Mar del Plata film festival. I hereby express my repeal to the Armed Forces Special Powers tirany.
- Occupation
- Software Engineer
- Country
- Argentina
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Natasha P
- Comments
- We Can! We Must! We love you Irom.
- Occupation
- Student
- Country
- India
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Pooja S
- Country
- India
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Joelene P
- Country
- Australia
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Poornima
- Comments
- I dont belive such things are happening that too in my own country,i cant say that people are ignorant here i think there is a serious need for a major awarenss drive about Irom Sharmila,right from personal efforst to brining wide media coverage!!
- Country
- India
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Saurabh P
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Palak S
- Occupation
- Political Researcher
- Country
- USA
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Pyi P
- Country
- Myanmar
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Palash B
- Comments
- REpeal the Draconian Act. Revision means Disaster IMMINENT
- Occupation
- Social Activist
- Country
- India
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pallavi b
- Country
- india
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Pallavi B
- Comments
- I vehemently oppose the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
- Occupation
- Student
- Country
- India
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Pallavi S
- Occupation
- Technical Writer
- Country
- India
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Rohit r
- Comments
- Repeal it now or we will make u...lets support irom sharmila...coz she needs it!
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rohit t
- Comments
- this act MUST be repealed immediately!
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Syed A Q
- Comments
- I am from India. This Act should be withdrawn
- Country
- USA
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Gilbert P
- Comments
- 21december2012
- Occupation
- freedom figther
- Country
- brazil
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Sanjit P
- Country
- India
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Romikanta p
- Comments
- The Prime minister of India ( Dr. Manmohan Singh ) himself accepted that AFSPA is not a human act with his statement "AFSPA will be modified in a more human way". Considering his statement if AFSPA is not removed completely it means PRIME MINISTER himself does not accept the people of north east and Jammu and Kashmir as human, leave alone the other Indians...
- Occupation
- Educator
- Country
- Manipur
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Paramjeet S
- Occupation
- Consultant
- Country
- India
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paranandswami
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Aravinda P
- Country
- India
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Keisham R
- Comments
- Please consider our petition
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- Student, Research Scholar
- Country
- India
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W Rorrkychand M
- Comments
- its our responsibility to kick it out
- Occupation
- Student
- Country
- India
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partha bijoy d
- Comments
- i condeman the dreconian act n kind of role played by both govt. and the indian army...repeal the act as early as possible...its against the people's safety and welfare...
- Occupation
- student
- Country
- india
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parul k
- Occupation
- journalism student
- Country
- india
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Srinivasan
- Country
- India.
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671
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