Independent report calls for repeal of AFSPA

Imphal, November 26 (The Telegraph): An independent fact-finding team from Delhi has recommended a repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, a transparent probe into all alleged cases of fake encounters in Manipur and release of Apunba Lup leaders detained under the National Security Act.
The team submitted its recommendations to Union home secretary G.K. Pillai on Monday. Comprising retired IPS and visiting professor of Jamia Milia Islamia University K.S. Subramanian, Mainstream editor Sumit Chakravarty, national secretary of People’s Union for Civil Liberties Kavita Srivastava and Delhi Solidarity Group’s Vasundhara Jairath, the team put together the report after assessing Manipur’s situation from November 5 to 10.
They visited the state in the wake of the widespread uproar over the killing of former militant Ch. Sanjit and shopper Rabina Devi in an alleged fake encounter by police commandos on July 23 in Imphal city. The team met a cross-section of people, including chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, the director-general of police Yumnam Joykumar Singh and families of victims of “state violence” as well as human rights activist Irom Sharmila.
Quoting the DGP, the report said security forces killed 260 persons in Manipur since January this year and all of them were militant activists. The 42-page report, titled “Democracy ‘encountered’: Rights violations in Manipur” charged state security forces with “indiscriminate killings”, protected as they were by the army act.
“The restoration of peace and order must go hand-in-hand with the promotion of the rule of law and justice for the sustenance of democracy…. Breakdown of rule of law and the climate of impunity have together resulted in a vicious circle with multiple actors (State and non-State) capitalising on the existing lawlessness for furthering their own vested interests, which have no relationship with either national security, safety of citizens, or the political right to self-determination,” the report said.
It made 12 recommendations. It wants the government to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, ensure the rule of law, to hold a transparent and thorough probe into each one of the alleged fake encounters and to strictly enforce procedural guidelines issued by the National Human Rights Commission with regard to encounters. The report also urged the government to revoke the NSA and false charges slapped on those demanding justice for Ch. Sanjit and Rabina Devi. Termination of Irom Sharmila’s custody was also among the demands.