[Reader-list] UN-CERD urges the Indian Govt to repeal the AFSPA within 1 year.

[Anivar Aravind]

Dear Friends

Manipur Solidarity Forum Bangalore invites you for a Press meet &
Discussion on recommendations of The UN Committee on Elimination of
Racial Discrimination to repeal Armed Force Special Power Act 1958

WHERE : SCM House, (behind Priyadarshini Handlooms), CSI compound,
Mission Road, Bangalore.
WHEN : 11 AM, 07/01/2008 Monday
Contact : 09446545336 / 09945282056 / 9844798907

Activist from North East Dialogue forum,  Nobo Kishore & Miranjan
Loitongbam will be present on the meeting

For a Briefing note on AFSPA see
http://manipurfreedom.org/briefing_of_the_afspa
--
Solidarity
Anivar
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The UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination urges the
Indian Government to repeal the AFSPA within one year time.

United Nations Committee on Racial Discrimination under the
International Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Racial
Discrimination discussed seriously the periodic reports of India
(CERD/C/IND/19) at Geneva on 23rd and 26th February 2007. Further the
committee at its 1809th meeting (CERD/C/SR.1809) held on 6th March 2007
adopted in its Concluding observation of paragraph 12 page no. 3 on
Armed Forces (Special Power) Act 1956.

The Committee notes with concern that the State party has not
implemented the recommendations of the Committee to Review the Armed
Forces Special Power Act 1958 to repeal the Act under which members of
the armed forces may not be prosecuted unless such prosecution is
authorised by the Central Government and have wide powers to search and
arrest suspects without a warrant or to use forces against persons or
property in Manipur and other north-eastern states which are inhabited
by tribal peoples (art. 2(1)(c), 5(b), (d) and (6)

The Committee urges the State party to repeal the Armed Forces special
Power Act and to replace it “by a more human Act.” In accordance with
the recommendations contained in the 2005 report of the above Review
Committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs. It also requests the
state party to release the report.

AFSPA is designed in 1958 by GOI especially for the North east states of
India, therefore the Act is discriminatory to the people in this part of
the world. It is important to note that the committee at its paragraphs
No. 34 page 8 of the concluding observation recommended with pursuant to
Article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and article 65 of the
Committee’s Rule of Procedure as amended, the Committee request that the
Govt. of India to implement its recommendation contain at paragraphs 12
within one year.

We look forward concern and solidarity to all the media. Without your
support it is impossible to make aware the people and get their support.