AFSPA and Human Rights in Manipur: Critical I...

AFSPA and Human Rights in Manipur: Critical Issues and Resistance

Author Name : Dr. Rino Mathew

ABSTRACT

 The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is one of the most controversial laws implemented in India.  AFSPA was enacted on 11 September 1958, to provide necessary powers, legal support and protection to the armed forces for carrying out proactive operations against the insurgents in a highly hostile environment. The AFSPA automatically comes in to force when the Government designated a territory as a disturbed area. Both Central and the State Government have the power to declare an area as disturbed. The implementation of the AFSPA resulted in the gross human rights violations in the North Eastern region. There have been numerous incidents of human rights violations in Manipur, India during the past thirty or more years. . India, although lauded as the largest democracy in the world, has poor record in Human Rights.  The life in this region is caught in the decade’s long armed conflict between the Indian Armed Forces and militancy. Provisions in AFSPA undermine the very foundations of democracy, justice and human rights. This paper will try to highlights the existing and emerging challenges under AFSPA and the major issues, the people resistance in Manipur.

Keywords: AFSPA, Human Rights, North East