Amid accolades, activists say fight for full repeal to go on

GUWAHATI: The Centre’s decision to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa) from areas in three northeastern states has drawn acclaim for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it indicates the party’s willingness to repeal the stringent law — a longstanding demand of the region — from areas where insurgency is on the decline. However, activists say the fight for a full repeal of the law from all states will continue.

In Assam for instance, the Centre’s move to repeal the law comes on the back of a decline in insurgent activities over the past few years. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), a database run by the Institute of Conflict Management, there were 60 different terror outfits operating in the state through the 1990s up to 2000.

Over the past five years, 16 terrorist groups have surrendered.

The changing scenario has also reflected in the activities of terror outfits in the state.

Data tabled by Centre in Parliament indicated that the number of insurgency-related incidents in the Northeast has dropped from 824 in 2014 to 187 till November 15, 2021. Civilian deaths during this period came down to three, before 13 people were gunned down in a botched Army operation in Mon district of Nagaland in 2021.

Following Thursday’s move, Afspa will remain in districts of Upper Assam where ULFA (Independent) is still active and in the hill districts of the state, where Dimasa National Liberation Army (DNLA) has a presence.

The Mon killings last year reignited the demand for Afspa from Nagaland. The state assembly on December 20 convened an urgent session and adopted a resolution to press for repealing the Act. Afspa will now be completely repealed from three districts — Tuensang, Shamatore and Tseminyu — and will be partially removed from Kohima, Wokha, Longleng and Mokokchung.

Districts that share the international border with Myanmar, Mon, Noklak, Kiphire and Phek, have been left out of the move.

“It is good to know there is a relaxation of some sorts. But mere appeasement policies do not help. Just too much transgressions and violations under this law has happened...,” says Neingulo Krome of the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights.

For the influential Naga Mothers Association, the repeal brought little relief. “Afspa must be repealed. This draconian law violates every form.of human rights and can never be justified...,” said NMA advisor Rosemary Dzuvichu.

In Manipur, Afpsa will be completely lifted from 15 police stations -- Sekmai, Lamsang, Patsoi, Lamlai, Irilbung, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Jiribam, Imphal West, Lamphel, Singjamei, Porompat, Heingang and Imphal City -- in six districts.

“This is definitely a step in the right direction. But this is not the end of our struggle and we will continue to strive for complete repeal of Afspa...,” Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of Imphalbased Human Rights Alert.

(With inputs from Alice Yhoshu in Kohima and Sobhapati Samom in Imphal)