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Volume 5, No. 9,
September 2004
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Repeal the Armed Forces Special
Power Act,1958!
Punish the culprits responsible
for the killing and raping of Manorama!
Support the Manipuris struggle
of self-determination!!
The whole of
Manipur is in Turmoil. Manipur Nation, except a few traitors, with one
voice, is demanding the repeal of the Armed forces Special Powers Act,
1958. Rallies, demonstrations, bandhs, mass meetings; Manipur people, in
umpteen number of protest forms coming on to the streets. Men, women and
children; old and young, the whole of Manipur is up in the arms against
the notoriously draconian piece of legislation which is the quintessence
of Army rule and negation any kind of democratic norms.
The Manipur
people lived with atrocities more than a half century under the brutal
boots of Indian Army along with the rest of the North East. The brutal
killing and raping of Th. Manorama Devi, who was taken from her house on
the early hours of July 10th
and her dead body was thrown some where spinning the usual false story
that she was shot when she was trying to flee, was a just the proverbial
last straw on the people of Manipur.
The Manipur
people’s struggle is nothing but a referendum against the draconian law.
On July 28 th
, more than one lakh people demonstrated demanding the repealing of the
blackest law on the Land. People are questioning: When the UPA
government promised to repeal the POTA to the rest of India, and the
AFSPA, being more draconian, why are the people of Manipur condemned to
live under the tyranny of Army rule? Why don’t the Centre accept the
repealing of this law on the same logic? Around three dozens of people’s
organizations are united as one and and the agitation is already three
weeks old. On July 15th, the proud women of Manipur demonstrated before
the Head quarters of the notorius and criminal Assam Rifles nakedly
showing the bitterest anger and frustration stunning the whole world
into silence. The gravity of the situation can be gauzed by the
unprecendented demonstration. The Congress government and the UPA at
centre is utterly stone deaf regarding the voices of the Manipur people.
Whole of North-East is supporting the Manipur nation in their democratic
struggle.
Manipur has
the long history of struggle. Especially the Manipur women. Nupi Lan,
war on Manipur, was launched against oppressive policies of then
Maharaja and his British agent in 1938. Even before this, Manipuri women
had protested against the forced labour and the increase in the water
tax by the British political agent. British were forced to stop forced
labour in 1904 in response for this agitation. Even after India took
over Manipur, Manipuri women fought many a battle against the atrocities
of Military and para-military forces, especially under the women’s
organistations such as Meira Paibi( Torch Bearing Women) and
Nupi Marup (Women’s Association).
Instead of
yielding to the democratic demand of the Manipur people, the Congress
government is resorting to the repressive measures. Arrests, lathi-charges,
firing on the demonstrations have become the order of the day. Many
parts of Manipur is still under curfew.. Forty persons including several
women injured in the firing on those coming for the protests on July 15 th.
On the same day, members of Manipur University Students Union (MUSU) was
brutally beaten.. Several students were hospitalized and some were taken
to the emergency ward.. On August 1st
Police fired teargas shells injuring 15 and arrested 40 students who
were doing a peaceful dharna Manipur government is clamping censorship.
It gave orders to ban the cable news channels which are giving some
publicity to the on going struggle.
Meanwhile the
Army had come out with bogus enquiry saying that Manorama Devi was not
raped. Meanwhile Manorama body was unilaterally did the last rites by
the administration leaving no traces of evidence for further enquiry.
While CPM is completely silent which is entirely satisfied with the Army
rule in Manipur, CPI is ridiculously demanding to restrict the Assam
rifles from the present Kangla fort till it is shifted to the newly
constructed barracks. CPI is presently the partner of the Ibo Singh
government and threatens to quit the cabinet on this demand. It is not
demanding the repeal of the notorious Act. The BJP till yesterday,
supported the Army rule and never demanded the Manipur people democratic
voice to repeal this law, is trying to encash in the agitation.
Communist
Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) [People’s War] and Maoist Communist
Centre Of India (MCCI) extend its whole hearted support to the Manipur
people long standing demand of the repeal of AFSPA, 1958, not only in
Manipur, it should be repealed in toto putting an end to the Army rule
in the whole of North East. Like in Manipur, many parts of India is like
a prison house. A large part of India is reeling under the atrocities of
para-military forces- Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh,
Orissa and West Bengal where people of those regions are fighting to
transform the society radically. Fifteen lakh Kashmiri population is
being crushed under the boots of 6 lakh military and para military
forces. We call upon all sections of people in India and struggling
nationalities unite as one voice against the common enemy and support
the on going political struggle of Manipur people to end the army rule,
and withdrawal of military and para-military forces from other parts of
the country too.
(SHOME)
Central Committee,
Maoist Communist Centre Of
India (MCCI)
August 2, 2004
(PRADEEP)
Central Committee,
CPI(ML)(PW)
August 2, 2004
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