NORTH-EAST FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY (NEFIS)
Correspondence Add: 2/21, Double Storey, Vijaynagar, Delhi; Ph: 7838983871; Email: nefis.delhi@gmail.com
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Date: 11.07.2016
PRESS RELEASE
NEFIS HOLDS CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL TO CELEBRATE SUPREME COURT’S JUDGEMENT AGAINST AFSPA! WILL INTENSIFY STRUGGLE FOR SCRAPPING OF AFSPA BY CENTRAL GOVT!
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) activists today gathered in huge numbers at Vishvidyalaya Metro Station and held a Candle Light Vigil to celebrate the recent judgement of Supreme Court condemning the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). It should be noted that the judgement said that if members of the armed forces are deployed and employed to kill citizens of the country on the mere allegation or suspicion that they are the ‘enemy’, not only the rule of law but also democracy would be in grave danger. This ruling is a vindication of the democratic movement against AFSPA.
It should be known that Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been used by the army to use draconian measures against Indian people. The law gives soldiers sweeping powers to arrest or interrogate people in “disturbed areas” or states dealing with separatists or insurgents. Declarations of the committee appointed by the Supreme Court in April 2013 that fake encounters happened in Manipur under the cover of immunity granted by this act, had earlier affirmed facts that we have all known for very long, about the nature of this brutal act.
NEFIS believes that by denying the right to rule of law, the Indian state has kept North-East people relegated to the status of second class citizenry in the country that claims itself to be the world’s largest democracy. While NEFIS welcomes this move, it will continue to wage struggle against this brutal act till it is repealed.
Chinglen Khumukcham,
Convener,
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)
Contact: 7838983871 E-mail: nefis.delhi@gmail.com
