CCpur takes out rally against crime against woman

LAMKA, May 11: Three organizations Waikhuroto Apunba Mairapaibi Lup (WYYAMPAL), Kwakta and its Surrounding Village United Club (KASVUCO) and Social Upliftment Center (SUC) today held a public meeting at the Tolbung's Gobilpur Hall and later organized a rally on the theme ''Crime against woman and children''  with the objective  to understand crime against women and children in Manipur, its implications and challenges.

More than 200 people including children had gathered today.

On the occasion, resource persons spoke in length about Crime against Women and Children and attributed the same to the imposition of the Arms Force Special Power Act (AFSPA).

Speaking on the occasion L Pisak Singh, secretary of  New Life Foundation said that 3 person die every day in Manipur because of AFSPA which means it is responsible for making  three woman widows everyday which has almost become a way of life we have to stop.

“Every political party say that “we are for the people” but it is the people who are subjected to harassment so it is time to stop remaining as mere spectators” he added, before continuing that at RIMS in Imphal, out of 100 women who come for help 70% have psychiatric problem which is hard for us to liken with the physical sickness but to domestic violence.

A social activist, Adam said that APSPA is a British legacy that we still have, which was meant to contain the national freedom movement like the Quit India Movement of the time.

He continued that the Act is the shortest with only five Articles, but the most powerful Act and  in the North East India it was first used as a tool to suppress the Naga movement but by 1980,  this act was used to contain more than 80 groups.

He quoted the Home Ministry report  in 2011-2012 which indicated that the situation on violence and discontent in Manipur have hugely improved  and  there are many commissions to review the AFSPA  be it at national and international level but the central govt has failed to relent on its stand for the repeal of this act.

He concluded by saying that so long as this Act is empowering the security forces our life will hang on a thread.

A mass rally for the repeal of AFSPA and prevention of crime on children and women,  was held at the end of the meeting at Tedim Road till the Tolbung bazaar.