Imphal: Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families’ Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) and Human Rights Alert (HRA) said Wednesday that they “warmly” welcomed the media report that the Government of Manipur is likely to recommend revocation of the “disturbed area” status under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) soon.
In a joint press statement, EEVFAM and HRA said, “As a part of the prolonged and determined struggle of the people of Manipur against AFSPA, EEFVAM and HRA have been spearheading a monumental legal battled seeking justice for the 1528 extrajudicial executions under the shadow of AFSPA”. The statement added that while the much needed and long overdue issue of revocation of “disturbed area” status is discussed, it would be totally meaningless if decisions on the critical issues are left out from the agenda of the proposed state cabinet meeting.
EEVFAM and HRA then demanded to “immediately” issue pending prosecution sanctions against all the police personnel indicted by the CBI/SIT in pursuance EEVFAM v/s Union of India, SC WP (Cril) 129 of 2012. “Even though prosecution sanction against the lower ranking police personnel are readily issued, those against the higher ranking police personnel are not issued till date”, they further said.
They also demanded to “strongly peruse” with the Union of India to issue prosecution sanction against all the armed forces of the union found to be involved in the extrajudicially killing the innocent citizens of Manipur, whose prima facie evidences have been already submitted to the Chief Judicial Magistrates of various districts of Manipur following the investigation of the CBI/SIT in pursuance EEVFAM v/s Union of India, SC WP (Cril) 129 of 2012.
EEVFAM and HRA then demanded to recommend the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.
“Through this press release EEVFAM and HRA strongly urge the Government of Manipur to take firm decisions on the three issues,” the joint statement said, adding, “Only then would the people of Manipur be convinced of the government’s commitment to uphold the human rights of the victims of AFSPA and not just another pre-poll political gimmick”.
NNN