North-east hopes for a new era of peace

NEW DELHI: Chief ministers across northeastern states on Thursday hailed the Centre’s decision to remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa) from large swathes of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, terming it “a new era of peace”. Human rights activists, too, welcomed the move but said they would continue to push for the complete repeal of the “draconian” legislation.

Afspa, which empowers security forces to conduct operations and arrest anyone without any prior warrant, was in force in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur (excluding Imphal Municipal Council Area), Changlang, Longding and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh, and areas falling within the jurisdiction of eight police stations of districts in Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the decision to withdraw Afspa from 23 districts now meant that “around 60%” of the state will now not be under the purview of the Act. “I wholeheartedly welcome PM Narendra Modiji’s decision to withdraw Afspa..” Afspa has been in force in the state since 1990.

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, too, said: “This decision will lead to a new era of peace, prosperity and development in Manipur again,” Singh said.

In Manipur, where the disturbed area declaration was in force (except Imphal Municipality area) since 2004, the Centre decided to remove Afspa from 15 police station areas of six districts.

In Nagaland, where the disturbed area notification was in force since 1995, Afspa will be removed from 15 police stations. The demands for the withdrawal of Afspa from the region were renewed in December last year after the killings of 14 people in a botched operation in Mon.

“This is a significant development towards bringing stability, security & prosperity to the North East region,” chief minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted. Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga hailed the decision as a wise step of a government that “truly cares about the developmental welfare of its own people”. Conrad Sangma, Meghalaya’s chief minister, also welcomed the move and said it would leave to a positive message to the people of the region.

Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu called the move “a very honest and sincere attempt at doing something different…we all stand solidly in support of this strong decision”.

Activists from the region termed it a good beginning but said they would continue to the complete repeal of Afspa. “This is definitely a step in the right direction. But this is not the end of our struggle and we will continue to fight for the complete repeal of AFSPA. That’s the only way India can claim to be a true democracy. This was long overdemand due but better late than never,” said Imphal-based Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of Human Rights Alert, an NGO.