AFSPA must Totally be Repealed !
The Armed Forces ( Special Powers ) Act that came into effect in 1958 , has been playing havoc with the lives of the people and their property in North-Eastern states and Jammu & Kashmir in the name of dealing with uprisings and armed disturbances .
The people of all these states have been demanding for the full repeal of AFSPA . Particularly after the recent December incident of army personnel killing 13 civilians in Nagaland , the people of North-Eastern states are vociferously demanding for the repeal of the draconian AFSPA totally . After the outrage against the army killing civilians in Nagaland , the Home ministry on December 26 formed a committee to study if the AFSPA could be withdrawn . It appears that the said committee has given some recommendations , which are not made known to the public . It is unknown what were the terms of reference set to the said committee , to study and make its recommendations .
� of the great struggles that have taken place , to prepare for further implementation of the agrarian programme by directly taking these experiences to the masses for the preparation of the impending struggle .
There is no dispute in the fact that Telangana , Naxalbari and Srikakulam mass movements became the targets of repression after reaching a certain stage . At the same time the movements became the victims of diversionist ideas , theories and tactics . In such a circumstance the leadership of the parties had to take the reins of the movement . We should not hoodwink the facts by attributing the failures to the ideas and actions of an individual or a group . We have to examine the conditions in which those individuals or groups became victims of those trends .
From Marx , Engels , Lenin to Nagi Reddy explained in detail in their writings that during the time of lull in
May - 2022
However in the name of basing on the said committee ’ s recommendations , the union Home Minister Amit Shah has grandly announced that , his ministry has considerably reduced the “ disturbed areas ” under the AFSPA in Assam , Manipur and Nagaland . The Law Minister Rijju praised this as historical decision .
But it is clearly apparent that the so-called relaxation of application of AFSPA in some areas , is made for some administrative reasons , besides facilitating the Central government to reach several agreements with some insurgent groups in Assam , Manipur and Nagaland .
With such an announcement of partial relaxation of AFSPA in some areas , the Central government is hood-winking the people and belies the real aspiration and demands of the people suffering by the cruelties of AFSPA .
The very recent incidents in Arunachal Pradesh and J & K states
the movement we should not waste our time in the mutual condemnation for the failures but on the other hand we have to make use of the time available in planning from where and how to launch the movement again after examining our experiences and taking lessons from it . Our opponents , the anti revolutionaries try to create confusions and spreading demoralisation among the revolutionary ranks by utilising our failures and by heckling us . They are chattering from the roof tops blaming and accusing revolutionaries . Let them chatter ! But their excitement will not last long as they are entangled in financial and political crisis . Their boasting may continue for a short time . So Comrade Nagi Reddy explained that after learning lessons from the previous experiences revolutionaries have start their activities again . Class struggles continue as long as exploiting classes and exploiting system exist and the Red Flag keeps flying . � once again clarify that it is not the individual army personnel that are culprits but it is the AFSPA that made the army personnel the culprits and enemies of the citizens .
On April 2 , the soldiers of an elite army unit of 12 paras injured two civilians at Chasa village in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh when they were returning after fishing . The soldiers fired upon them . When the angry villagers surrounded the army officer , he admitted that the mistake was committed after mistaking the civilians for extremists . As usual , the army ordered in to an enquiry subsequently ordering it to be a court marshalling of the officers and the concerned soldiers .
On April 7 , in Handwara of Kupwara district soldiers entered in to a mosque and started filming of the noon prayers . When they were objected to not to film , they fired on the people injuring 2 persons . The incident triggered protests of the people .
Both the above incidents clearly show that it is not the individual soldiers but the AFSPA , which gave them vast powers to fire on the people indiscriminately is the real cause for such incidents .
Many committees , appointed on this issue , by the Supreme Court have clearly recommended that AFSPA be repealed , without it remaining in the statute . They pointed out that various other laws like UAPA can effectively deal with the problems of insurgencies if any .
But our rulers refuse to act according to reason and as per the wishes and aspirations of the people . That is why they are adamant in not repealing the AFSPA .
However , this state of affairs shall not be continued . The much despised AFSPA must be annulled fully .
The democratic forces shall consistently demand for the full repeal of AFSPA , until the realisation of the demand ! The AFSPA must be fully repealed . �
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