Irom Sharmila Solidarity Campaign Growing in India

By SYED ALI MUJTABA SYED



The iron lady of Manipur, Ms. Irom Sharmila Chanu of Manipur is one of the civil rights activists in India better known for her relentless campaign for the the repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Irom Sharmila has been on has been on hunger strike since November 2, 2000 demanding that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 (AFSPA). She has refused food and water for more than 500 weeks, making her the longest hunger striker in the world.

She caught the imagination of the nation on October 2, 2006, when she held hunger strike at the historic Jantar Mantar, New Delhi and was joined by the students, human rights activists and other concerned citizens. She was arrested by the Delhi police for attempting suicide.

Since then support to her is growing steadfastly. On June 25, 2011, a candle light solidarity prayer was held at the Rajghat New Delhi where approximately 200 people participated from all walks of life.

It is part of this growing support that Irom Sharmila Solidarity Campaign is being launched in India and under it various programmes and action are being organized through out the country.

The programmes organized under the banner 'Irom Sharmila Solidarity Campaign. have already begun from Oct 2, ( birthday of Mahatma Gandhi) across states of India and would culminate on Dec 10, 2011. As a part of this campaign a Srinagar to Imphal journey and national signature campaign is also being planned.

Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) continues to be the most potent repressive tool of the Indian state that empowers even a non commissioned officer of the armed forces to kill on mere suspicion and provide legal immunity from prosecution, thereby causing untold misery and agony among the peoples of the affected regions.

The imposition of AFSPA is synonymous to heavy militarization in the states where it is promulgated leading to gross civil and political rights violations including enforced disappearances, extra-judicial execution, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, rape and other forms of sexual violence against women, arbitrary arrest and detention.

Armed Forces Special Powers Act, a colonial legacy used against Mahatma Gandhi, was promulgated initially in the Naga areas of Assam (later divided between 4 states) and later in Mizoram, initially in parts of Manipur and later in all of Manipur.

The Ordinance after a brief discussion in the Parliament was endorsed and got the status of Act on August 18, 1958, despite stiff resistance from various quarters who challenged it as a martial and draconian law.

Since then it has been in force in one part or the other of the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir (since 1991).

Even though continuation of the 'disturbed area' status under the AFSPA in many part of the country is illegal in view of the violation of the mandatory six monthly periodic review directed by Supreme Court in its 1997 Judgement, there is no respite from this draconian law.

This law is more draconian than its predecessor ordinance used by the British to suppress the Quit India Movement. In the pretext of controlling insurgency, 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 and J&K.

The democratic movements in the Northeast states of India and the Jammu and Kashmir have consistently demanded the repeal of the Act and demilitarisation for decades but their repeated plea has fallen on the deaf ears and and nothing has so far been done to check the state sponsored injustices being perpetrated.

It is in this context Irom Sharmila struggle against Armed Forces Special Powers Act, has become synonymous with the cause. It amazing to see her conviction and courage to take on the might of the Indian state.

Although Sharmila is leading the Manipur people’s movement but her popularity over the years has catapulted her to the national stage. It's her sheer grit and determination that has made her a national icon. She occupies the same space as that Anna Hazare has on corruption, Medha Patkar on Narmada Bacho and similar civil rights activists

It therefore important for all the freedom loving people who care for human rights and human values in this country to render support to 'Irom Sharmila Solidarity Campaign and make it a success.

It wont be improper to mention that Irom Sharmila is one of the faces better known to us, but she is not the only one, there are many more like her who have taken up this cause and deserve salutation.

Here one has to acknowledge the names like; Mukta Srivastava , GG Parikh, Sukla Sen, Daniel Mazgoankar, Asad, Shimanshu, Suhas Kolhekar, Simpreet Singh, Jatin Desai, Guddi S.L who have put up a brave front and has taken up this cause.

One can only wish good luck and best wishes those who are campaigning for the repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in India.

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Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com

Scarcity Of Fuel Impairs Daily Life in Manipur

Imphal, Nov 4 : Despite the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee (SHDDC) lifting the economic blockade in Manipur, the counter embargo imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) on National Highways 39 and 37 has adversely affected normal life, as there has been an acute shortage of petrol and diesel in the state.

People are worried so much as they fear that the fuel stock might last just another two or three days.

Manipur has been reeling under acute fuel scarcity due to a prolonged economic blockade of more than three months.

In order to meet the demand of the fuel, the state’s Consumers Affairs and Public Distribution Department has rationed the petrol and diesel to limited and selected retail outlets in the state.

“Everyone has been affected, but the most affected are poor families like us, as we live on a daily wages for survival. Prices of every essential commodity has rocketed sky high, and we find it very costly and difficult to buy,” said Sanatomba, an auto rickshaw driver, Imphal.

The present scarcity of fuel has led the masses to purchase adulterated petrol from at exorbitant rates ranging from rupees 170 to 200 per litre.

There was utter confusion after there was a radio broadcast informing people that there is ample fuel in the state and consequently, locals queued near petrol pumps in Imphal.

“We have been badly affected as we find it very difficult in availing the daily required fuel. We are very sad by the way we are being made to suffer. As we are being made to halt for a long period causes us a lot of problem,” lamented
Malemnganbi Devi, another local resident of Imphal.

The blockade on the highways linking Manipur, where assembly elections are due early next year, was led by an ethnic tribal group of who were demanding the creation of separate district.

The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee started its agitation since August 1, seeking conversion of the Kuki-majority Sadar hills area in Naga-majority Senapati district into a full-fledged district.

PMO Sitting Over AFSPA Amendment Proposal

A tussle between the Home and Defence ministries has delayed changes in the controversial and sweeping Act

By Iftikhar Gilani

New Delhi. Nov 4 : In a ‘fake encounter’ in Pathribal in 2000, six civilians were killed by the Army after being branded as foreign militants

As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah renews the debate on the issue of withdrawal of the contentious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some selected areas, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is sitting on a file on a Home Ministry proposal seeking amendments in the law, which gives sweeping powers to the armed forces, for over a year.

After a tussle between the Home and Defence ministries over amending the law and failing to take a final call, the PMO is now pinning its hopes on the Supreme Court, which is expected soon to interpret Army’s Special Leave Petition (SLP), which seeks immunity from prosecution of its officers involved in a ‘fake encounter’ in Pathribal in 2000 in which six civilians were killed after being branded as foreign militants.

Interestingly, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had found a prima facie case against the Army officers, has pleaded the Supreme Court to vacate the stay on the trial, being conducted by the Chef Judicial Magistrate of Srinagar. The civilians were shot five days after the killing of 35 Sikhs in Chatisinghpura village in Anantnag district on eve of the visit of then-US President Bill Clinton on March, 2000. CBI counsel Ashok Bhan told a two-judge bench that a prima facie case existed against Brigadier Ajay Saxena, Lt. Col Brajendra Pratap Singh, Major Sourabh Sharma, Major Amit Saxena, Sudedar Idrees Khan and others.

The Army has said in its plea that their personnel seeking immunity under Sections 6 and 7 of the AFSPA, 1958, which has been rejected by lower courts as well as Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Last year, while admitting the special leave petition (SLP) against the High Court order, the apex court also stayed proceedings at the trial court.

CBI counsel Ashok Bhan said that immunity was not available under any law when innocent persons have been in cold blood in fake encounters to win laurels and medals. Vacation of the stay order would of great public importance, address sensibilities of Kashmiris and uphold the rule of law. “Therefore, the stay should be vacated in broader public interest and allow CJM Srinagar to proceed with the case,” he added.

Last year, at the behest of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Home Ministry had circulated a draft of amendments to the controversial law to the members of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Countering the Home Ministry proposal, the Defence Ministry circulated its own draft note opposing any changes.

Modelled on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Ordinance, promulgated by the colonial British government on 15 August, 1942, to suppress the Quit India Movement, the AFSPA was initially supposed to have remained in operation for one year to tackle the Nagaland problem. Parliament enacted a fresh law Jammu and Kashmir Armed Forces Special Powers Act in September 1990 to cover Jammu and Kashmir incorporating clauses of Disturbed Areas Act also in the Section 3 of JKAFSPA.

Under Section 6 of this law, “No prosecution, suit or other legal proceedings shall be instituted, except with the previous sanction of the Central government, against any person in respect of anything done or purported to be done in exercise of powers conferred by this Act.”

Amendments proposed by MHA
1. Dropping the phrase “even to causing of death” as a permissible consequence of firing, or use of force by the armed forces
2. Providing for a grievance redressal mechanism to address complaints regarding Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) abuse.
3. Section 4 gives the Army powers to search premises and make arrests without warrants, to use force even to the extent of causing death, destroy arms/ammunition dumps, fortifications/shelters/hideouts and to stop, search and seize any vehicles. The amendment stipulates that such operations be undertaken in presence of a civilian magistrate.
4. Under Section 6, the arrested persons and seized property are to be handed over to the police with least possible delay. An amendment to this clause requires splitting search and seizure operations and seizure operations should be vested with the civilian administration.
5. Section 7 offers protection of personnel acting in good faith in their official capacity. While upholding the clause, the proposed amendment stipulates to set up a rederessal mechanism under both civilian and armed forces administration to probe genuine complaints.
6. Prosecution is permitted only after sanction of the Central government. Section 7 is similar to the Criminal Procedure Code’s (CrPC) Section 45, which bars arrest of public servants, and Section 197 provides impunity against prosecution. While the Supreme Court has mandated a government sanction prior to initiating prosecution against police personnel for excesses or killings committed during the maintenance of law and order, the applicability of Section 45 of the CrPC is not allowed in J&K, where the Ranbir Penal Code is applicable and ipso facto the personnel of the armed forces can be arrested for any perceived excesses.

Army note circulated in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS)
1. Section 3 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act says the Central and state governments are the authorised institutions to declare an area disturbed implying that the political leadership should take a call first on revocation of Disturbed Areas Act before adjudicating on changes in the AFSPA. It is evident that the Army is in operation to help the civilian government in the Disturbed Area. Therefore, it is a political call to revoke the Disturbed Areas Act tag before revoking AFSPA.
2. The case of Human Rights Forum Vs Union of India and State of Manipur, filed on 10 October, 1980, in the Supreme Court clearly states that after adjudicating the AFSPA for over 18 years, the apex court had finally upheld the Constitutional validity of all the clauses of the Act. The court, at the same time, passed a series of Do's and Don'ts. The Army has been following these guidelines religiously.
3. The Army has been already following proposed amendments like handing over an Army personnel involved in an encounter to the local police and magistrate. Even in case of the latest alleged fake encounter at Machil sector in Kupwara district, the Army had informed the local police within 24 hours.
4. Section 7 of the AFSPA offers protection to security personnel acting in good faith in their official capacity, and their prosecution is permitted only after sanction of the Central government.
5. Section 4 gives the Army powers to search premises and make arrests without warrants, to use force even to the extent of causing death, destroy arms and ammunition dumps, fortifications or shelters or hideouts and to stop, search and seize any vehicle. Section 6 stipulates that arrested persons and seized property are to be handed over to the police with least possible delay.
6. Comparing this action with a situation where the Army is asked to assist the civil authority during a riot, it is not practical to look for a magistrate during an encounter or to wait for a search warrant to enter a house where the militant is likely to be hiding. Any delay would allow him to get away thereby nullifying the efforts of the Army to conduct pro-active actions.

Supreme Court Guidelines On AFSPA Issued In 1997
1. A person arrested and taken into custody in exercise of the powers under Section 4(c) of the Central Act should be handed over to the officer-in-charge of the nearest police station with least possible delay so that he can be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hours of such arrest excluding the time taken for journey from the place of arrest to the court of magistrate.
2. The property or the arms, ammunition etc., seized during the course of search conducted under Section 4(d) of the Central Act must be handed over to officer-in-charge of the nearest police station together with a report of the circumstances occasioning such search and seizure.
3. The provisions of Cr.PC governing search and seizure have to be followed during the course of search and seizure conducted in exercise of the power conferred under Section 4(d) of the Central Act.
4. Section 6 of the Central Act in so far as it confers a discretion on the Central Government to grant or refuse sanction for instituting prosecution or suit or proceeding against any person in respect of anything done or purported to be done in exercise of the powers conferred by the Act does not suffer from the vice of arbitrariness. Since the order of the Central Government refusing or granting the sanction under Section 6 is subject to judicial review, the Central government shall pass an order giving reasons.
5. While exercising the power conferred under clauses (a) to (d) of Section 4, the officers of the armed forces shall strictly follow the instructions contained in the list of ‘Do’s and Don’ts” issued by the army authorities, which are binding and any disregard to the said instructions would entail suitable action under the Army Act, 1950.
6. The instructions contained in the list of ‘Do’s and Don’ts” shall be suitably amended so as to bring them in conformity with the guidelines contained in the decisions of this Court and to incorporate the safeguards that are contained in clauses (a) to (d) of Section 4 and Section 5 of the Central Act as construed and also the direction contained in the order of this Court dated 4 July, 1991, in Civil Appeal No. 2551 of 1991.
7. A complaint containing an allegation about misuse or abuse of the powers conferred under the Central Act shall be thoroughly inquired into and, if on inquiry it is found that the allegations are correct, the victim should be suitably compensated and the necessary sanction for institution of prosecution and/or suit or other proceeding should be granted under Section 6 of the Central Act.

Source:  Tehelka.com

HTF Explode Bomb On Railway Bridge in Dima Hasao

Haflong (Assam), Nov 4 : A bomb was exploded by suspected underground Hill Tiger Force (HTF) terrorists on a railway bridge in Assam's Dima Hasao district on Thursday suspending movement of trains, official sources said.

However, no injury or casualty was reported.

The blast at around 5 pm damaged the metre gauge railway tracks near Ditackchera railway station leading to the suspension of all trains running between Lumding and Badarpur, railway officials said.

The local insurgent outfit HTF has been recently indulging in violence in the district blasting a bomb on the railway tracks between Mahur and Phiding as well as burning down several houses in Dimasa ethnic tribe villages last month.

China Envoy Ro Journos: 'Shut Up' on Arunachal

Sinlung Says: Chinese Ambassador might be right or wrong...but Arunachal will be blessed if its part of China...The world’s largest economy. That's All we say. Arunachalis won't be second class citizens at least by looks.

New Delhi: Chinese Ambassador to India on Thursday told journalists to 'shut up' when questioned about map showing Ladakh and Arunachal as part of China.

Chinese Ambassador was attending an event in Delhi where a Chinese company's brochure showed Arunachal and Ladakh as part of China.

The Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs who was present at the event had already raised the issue with the Ambassador.

The incident just happened suddenly at an event in New Delhi involving a delegation from Sichiang, which was being shepherded by the Chinese ambassador. A brochure given by a Chinese company, which is involved in some projects in India, showed a map of Ladakh and Arunachal as a part of China.

When a journalist from Outlook Business asked the ambassador for his reaction on that, he was asked to shut up. So, there were some raised voices in the process, and the Joint Secretary, China also intervened.

The matter was apparently sorted out, but it's not clear if the Chinese ambassador apologised for his remark.

But it's pretty clear that since the map also involved a China's stated position, it's unlikely that the ambassador would have gone back on that either.

Diary Of A Style Evolution

One girl's journey from student to sophisticate becomes YouTube hit after she takes photo of herself every day for four-and-a-half years

By Tamara Abraham

A girl has sparked a YouTube sensation by taking a photograph of herself every day for the past four-and-a-half years.

The 41-minute time-lapse video, which has had over 3 million views, shows the hundreds of photos, taken between September 29 2006 and May 12 2011, in sequence.

Viewed in quick succession, the pictures reveal her journey from dishevelled student to elegant young woman.

Style evolution: A girl's time-lapse video of daily photographs from the past four-and-a-half years has become a YouTube sensation

From student to sophisticated: The photographs, taken religiously, even on off days, or if she was in fancy dress, show how her look has changed over time

While many of the clothes and accessories she wears reappear from time-to-time, it is clear that her hair is where she has been most experimantal.

The earlier photographs, many taken in the same location - perhaps student halls - show a short bob. But before long she bravely chops it all off into a more daring boyish style.

Dated: The earliest images, many taken in the same location - perhaps student halls - show a short bob. She wears little make-up and casual clothes

Daring: Before long, she bravely chops it all off into a more daring boyish style. As a pretty girl with defined features, she pulls it off well - even when it was growing out

As a pretty girl with defined features, she pulls it off well - even during that awkward 'growing out' phase, which, as many of us are well aware, is unavoidable.

But it gets to a point, it seems, where it it just too long, so she goes for the chop again - this time a sharp Gallic bob with fringe. It's a cut that works well with a mortarboard, as we see in one frame, where she is clearly graduating university.

From here on her look continues to sharpen up. Now, perhaps in the world of work, we see her wearing more elegant jewellery, pearls and simple chains, compared with the novelty earrings of the earlier pictures.

Growing out phase: As her hair gets longer, she can experiment more with it, and eventually it is long enough to pull back into a ponytail

Grown-up new 'do: It seems there comes a point when it is just too long, and she goes for the crop again - a Gallic bob with a blunt fringe - just in time for her graduationMake-up is no longer reserved for fancy dress. Instead, bold reddish oranges are bang on trend and perfect for the office.

The fringe is a little grown out, but, maintained by a hairdresser perhaps, is a softer, flattering look.

The girl, who goes only by the YouTube username Madandcrazychild, is unnamed on the video, shows every photograph on her blog, Clickflashwhirr.

She writes only: 'My face has grown out of the front of my head since birth. There seems to be very little I can do about it.'

Elegant: Now, perhaps in the world of work, make-up is no longer reserved for fancy dress. Instead, bold reddish oranges are bang on trend and perfect for the office

Jobs Too Few At Home, Manipur Looks Beyond

By Esha Roy

Grappling with ever rising unemployment, the Manipur government has roped in 10 placement agencies across the country to get its youths jobs outside the state. The focus is on jobs in the metros and abroad.

The government has tied up with the Indian Council of Overseas Employment and the International Organisation for Migration, which earlier this year launched an initiative on skill development for overseas employment with a focus on the Northeast. The plan is to send 10,000 youths from the Northeast to jobs abroad over the next two years.

“One of the main focuses is to get the youth here employment overseas, as they receive very few opportunities to go abroad and work. The main centres where recruitment is carried out for jobs overseas are Mumbai, Chennai and Kochi. These are where the recruiting agents are based. Our plan is to bring them to this state which has a high level of education but little employment,” says Chief Secretary D S Poonia.

The 10 companies it has tied up with include Ananda Spa, Suryavinayak, Sri Sanskara and Sunderdeep that trains in the hospitality and retail sectors. The government is also in the process of signing an MoU with C Trance that works in the aviation sector and supplies cabin crew.

Project coordinator for the International Organisation for Migration (under the Ministry of Overseas Employment) Nitin Kumar says the project was announced earlier this year to tap the human resources in all northeastern states. “The idea is to create standardised skills which will involve providing the trainees with internationally accepted qualifications. Indian qualifications aren’t always accepted abroad.”

The Northeast project is a pilot for the Ministry. “If the project is a success then in a couple of years it will be extended pan-India. According to the approximate projections which we have, there will be around 37 million unemployed by 2026 — that is about 68 per cent of the working population. Whereas there is a gap emerging with other countries — especially the European Union, which have a decreasing workforce — India can meet that gap,” he says.

Among the organisations roped in by the Centre to implement the project is Aspire, a consortium of CEOs of companies which has taken it upon itself to train a workforce. Founder and CEO Amit Bhatia says Aspire has so far been dealing in management and engineering training. “We have been working with Harvard, Cambridge, Carnegie, etc, but our main aim is to shift from the Tier I cities to the population which lives in the Tier II, III and IV cities in the country. So we are not looking at the IITs and IIMs but are trying to create a workforce outside of these elite institutions,” says Bhatia.

Bhatia says the organisation is now focusing on automotive, construction, hospitality and healthcare for its tailor-made project for the Northeast. “Indians’ employment abroad is concentrated primarily in the Gulf and some Southeast Asian countries. We have identified Korea, Denmark, Hungary and the Czech Republic as the first markets where we will export a workforce to. Within the next two years we will be sending 10,000 trained workers from the Northeast to these countries,” says Bhatia.

Prof Bijoy Kumar, Manipur University’s economics head, says the problem is not just of unemployment but of low salaries. “Only 75,000 across the state have secure government jobs with decent salaries. The rest have so negligible salaries that they can be considered unemployed,” says Kumar. Prof Amar Yumnam, also of the economics department, says that in a three million population, nearly a million are currently unemployed.

We Must Learn To Live Together: PC

Senapati, Nov 3 : In the face of the intensified United Naga Council (UNC)-sponsored stir demanding alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur, Union home minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday strongly advocated the need to enhance communal harmony.

"We must learn to live together. There is no problem which cannot be solved through talks," said Chidambaram minutes after he inaugurated a mini secretariat office complex and a section of a district hospital at the district headquarters here, 61 km from Imphal.

The Union minister's peace initiative came a couple of days after the state government and the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC) entered into an agreement in which the former assured to upgrade the Kuki-dominated Sadar hills to a full-fledged revenue district at the earliest after the submission of a report by the District Re-organization Committee (DRC).

Accompanied by central officials and AICC leaders, Chidambaram arrived in Imphal in a special aircraft on Wednesday morning on his two-day visit to strife-torn Manipur. From Imphal, he, along with chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and his team, landed at Senapati in a chopper.

Before addressing the public at Senapati, the Union home minister and the chief minister had a closed-door meeting with the leaders of the agitating United Naga Council (UNC) for about 40 minutes.

Though both parties refused to divulge the meeting deliberations, sources said the UNC hard pressed the home minister to implement its long standing demand of an alternative administrative arrangement in Naga areas without links with the state government.

Following Monday night's agreement, the SHDDC suspended its 90-day economic blockade on National Highways 2 and 37.

Denouncing the state government's alleged attempt to bifurcate the Naga-dominated areas to create new districts, the UNC has been imposing economic blockade on the highways since August 21.

The apex Naga body has also imposed a three-day total bandh in the Naga area from Thursday midnight in protest against the state-SHDDC agreement. Pacifying the UNC's ire, Singh said even after the DRC submits its report, his government will not take any decision of its own to create the Sadar Hills district.

"Even after we receive the DRC report, we will consult all civil bodies and communities. We will not take any decision unilaterally and we don't want to create problems while trying to resolve another problem," Singh said.

"We will not do anything which will hurt any community and we should live together peacefully. If there is any misunderstanding let us forget and forgive," the chief minister said, earning a round of heavy applause from the Nagas at the newly inaugurated hall within the district headquarters' mini secretariat complex.

The chief minister appealed to the UNC to end its intensified stir in the larger interest of the people. "At a time when the Centre is extending its utmost effort to develop the state, we are facing frequent economic blockades," Singh lamented.

After the Senapati programme, they flew to Ukhrul to inaugurate a new government infrastructure. On Thursday, they will visit Tamenglong district.