OPEN LETTER TO ALL POLITICAL PARTIES TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE OF REPEAL OF AFSPA
To,
Representatives of all political parties of India
The World’s largest democracy has plunged into the election season as the 16thLokh Sabha elections are approaching. The environment is tense. While you all are busy organizing rallies, giving speeches, proving yourself better and different from others, the media and the public are busy in speculations and debates. Your every move is being closely watched. This election season is particularly more gripping because of new political developments. Claims and promises are largely centered around development, secularism and corruption. It is being believed that with these issues, you all will be able to woo all sections of the population. However, the truth is that still millions of people are being left out.
You have missed out on millions of people for whom these promises of development, secularism and corruption hold no meaning. We are talking about the people residing in the AFSPA-imposed states of North East and Jammu & Kashmir. Their voices, their concerns have been ignored. But this is also not the only time. They have been ignored for decades.
Reports by NHRC, by several national and international independent human rights’ committees have shown how AFSPA has become a symbol of cruelty and arbitrariness in these states. They have led to extra-judicial killings, torture, rapes, disappearances and fake encounters. AFSPA has disrupted civilian life. In these states, it is an everyday struggle to save one’s life and honour. So in these states, your claims and promises of development, secularism and corruption hold no meaning until basic human rights are guaranteed to these people. They need to be promised and be given the right to life. Your promises of development are incomplete and impossible without the repeal of AFSPA. Where is the place for your symbols of ‘development’ in the cities torn apart regularly by the repressive state machinery and military? Where schools and public parks are transformed into military camps? How will there be development in the shadows of guns? Your promise of challenging corruption is another utopia. You cannot challenge corruption without challenging AFSPA because AFSPA is the face of corruption- a corruption of humanity. AFSPA has been caught in the blame game. While the state government will put the blame on the centre, the centre will put the blame on army. The army will also justify its stand by blaming the Government’s failure to administer. However, the truth is that AFSPA is a mask. It has many beneficiaries.
All your promises are useless there. The promise of a better future is intertwined with the repeal of AFSPA from these states. You cannot ignore this issue. Repeal of AFSPA is the only way forward. It is the only way forward for a better India. Repeal of AFSPA is a democratic and humanitarian issue. AFSPA is a blot on the world’s largest democracy. It is a shame that Irom Sharmila has entered her 14th year of hunger-strike against AFSPA. It is a shame that while she and her heroic struggle are internationally respected, her own government is not bothered. While her heroic struggle has challenged the conscience of the world, the conscience of her own government remains unchallenged. While her struggle shows her faith in the democratic values of the country, her government has no respect for democracy.
Democracy gives you a platform to contest between each other, but at the same time democracy wants you to be humane. Is your party a humane one? Does your party consider democracy as people’s mandate or is it just another method of acquiring power? Do you support the heroic struggle by people of J&K and North East against brutal and draconian AFSPA?
We want democracy, a democracy without any derogation. A democracy, where humanity should be the foremost promise.
Therefore, we appeal to all political parties who believe in democracy, equality and justice to take up this issue of repeal of AFSPA.
ELECTION 2014- Don’t Forget AFSPA
Issued by,
Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign
http://repealafspa.blogspot.com
Endorsed by:
- . Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA Secretary and CPI(ML) Politburo Member
- . Vrinda Grover, Advocate and Activist
- . Ravi Nitesh, SSSC
- . Devika Mittal, SSSC
- V Arun Kumar, AISA
- . Kalita Rupam, SSSC
- . Aslam Khan, RYA
- . Amar Kanwar, Filmmaker and writer
- . Meena Saraswathi Seshu, General Secretary Of SANGRAM, Maharashtra
- Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Feminist and human rights activits, Mumbai
- Nilanju Dutta, Jagori
- Vasanth Kannabiran, Asmita Resource Center for Women, Hyderabad
- Rituparna Borah, Queer Feminist Activist, New Delhi
- . Prof. Nandini Sundar, Academician and Activist
- N. Jayaram, Journalist
- Shreya Ila Anasuya, Activist
- . Queer Feminists India
- Reclaim The Night Delhi
- Lesley A Esteves, Queer Activist, New Delhi
- Shraddha Chickerur, Activist
- Vahida Nainar, Activist
- Dr. Sagari Ramdas
- Mini Mathew, Advocate
- LABIA Queer Feminist LBT Collective, Mumbai
- Nandita Narain, Delhi University
- Ubaid Mushtaq, Scholar, IIT BOMBAY
- Chhaya Datar
- Jinee Lokaneeta
- Rohini Hensman, Writer And Activist
- Kaveri R. I., Hyderabad
- Rakhi Sehgal, Hero Honda Theka Mazdoor Sangathan, Haryana
- Juhi Jain, Feminist Activist/Writer
- Gayatri Buragohain, Foundation For Social Transformation
- Dheeraj Gaba, Founder Of Rooh (A Rural Organization Of Humanity)
- Satyashodhak, Mumbai
- Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar
- Zaheeb Ajmal, Samar
- Jayachandran R, The Civil Rights And Social Justice Society(CRSJS), Kerala
- Sukla Sen, Ekta (Committee For Communal Amity), Mumbai
- . Jawad Mohammed
- Madhu Bala, Jagori
- Saumya Uma, Women’s Research & Action Group (WRAG)
- Ramlath Kavil
- . Aruna Burte, Solapur
- Anuradha Kapoor, SWAYAM, Kolkata
- Lalita Ramdas, Activist
- Shruti Batra
- Uma V Chandru, WSS, Bangalore
- Prof. Dr. Vibhuti Patel, SNDT Women’s University
- Deepti, Saheli Women
- Mohammad Imran, Activist
- Voices Against 377
- Dyuti, Student
- Ridhima Mehra
- Richa, Jan Abhiyan Sanstha, Himachal Pradesh
- Abha , Jagori Grameen
- Nimisha, Olakh, Vadodara
- Kavita Panjabi
- . Wahengbam Joykumar Singh, Secretary of Human Rights Initiative, Imphal
- . Ningthoukhongjam Rajesh, North East News Network
- . Walter Fernandes, Scholar and Activist
- . Ashim jain, ICAN
- . Subhash Mohapatra, Global Human Rights Communications
- . Viren Lobo, ICAN
- . Prithvi Sharma, ICAN
- . Kiran Shaheen, Activist, Journalist, Member-ICAN
- Manzoor Dar, Social Activist, J&K
- Rashmi Talwar, Columnist-Journalist-Writer
- Ameeque Jamei, PCPT
- Jyoti Punwani, Journalist Activist, Mumbai
- Ghazanafar Abbas, Youth Activist and Journalist, Delhi
- D.Gabriele Pennurimai Iyakkam, NAPM
- Antony Arulraj, Hotline Delhi
- For any other information and queries, mail at [email protected]
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