We invite you to come and take part in different actions going on throughout India in AGRA, BHUBANESWAR, CHENNAI, DELHI, IMPHAL, & PUNE. We need
your support to speak out against this draconian human rights violating act.
RALLY TO REPEAL!!! - Saturday, March 5, 2005
Agra:
Silent Sit-In Protest
3 - 7 pm at Sanjay Palace (near Speed Colour Lab)
Contact: Gitegen - 9897349044
Bhubaneswar:
Silent Sit-In Protest
3 - 6 pm at Lower P.M.G. Square
Contact: Sasmita - 9437036081
Chennai:
Silent Sit-In Protest
3 to 7 pm at Valluvar Kottam (near Temple of Chariot Wheel)
Contact: Guru: 9841426067 Ching 9884110977 Shyamsunder 9841529552
Delhi:
Sit-In Protest, Speeches by Social Activists, & Street Play on AFSPA
3 to 7 pm at Jantar Mantar (near Parliament Street)
Contact: Neil: 9873366305 Onil:91-11-51642501 & 26854763 -
onilrights@gmail.com Imphal:
Human Chain
1 - 6 pm at Kangla Fort (near Western Gate)
Contact: Munindro: 9436031331 Bhavesh: 9436021229
Pune:
Street March & Candlelight Vigil
3 - 7pm Starts at Police Ground (opposite Rahul Theatre)
Ends at Rang Mandir (March via SC road and JM road)
Contact: Oishik 9822317068
Background Info on Armed Forces Special Powers Act:
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 (AFSPA) is one of the more draconian legislations that the Indian Parliament has passed in its 45 years of Parliamentary history. Under this Act, all security forces are given unrestricted and unaccounted power to carry out their operations, once an area is declared disturbed. Even a non-commissioned officer is granted the right to shoot to kill based on mere suspicion that it is necessary to do so in order to "maintain
the public order".
The AFSPA gives the armed forces wide powers to shoot, arrest and search, all in the name of "aiding civil power." It was first applied to the North Eastern states of Assam and Manipur and was amended in
1972 to extend to all the seven states in the north- eastern region of India. They are Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland, also known as the "seven sisters". The
enforcement of the AFSPA has resulted in innumerable incidents of arbitrary detention, torture, rape, and looting by security personnel.
This legislation is sought to be justified by the Government of India, on the plea that it is required to stop the North East states from seceeding from the Indian Union. There is a strong movement for self-determination which precedes the formation of the Indian Union. - South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center
For more background info go to
http://www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/resources/armed_forces.htm Amnesty International India
www.amnesty.org.in
Email:
admin-in@amnesty.org & cam-in@amnesty.org C-161, 4th Floor Hemkunt House
Gautam Nagar (Behind Indian Oil Building)
New Delhi, India 110049
Phone: 91-11-51642501 Fax: 26510202