To,
Representatives of all political parties of India
The World’s largest democracy has plunged into the election season as the 16thLokh Sabha elections are approaching. The environment is tense. While you all are busy organizing rallies, giving speeches, proving yourself better and different from others, the media and the public are busy in speculations and debates. Your every move is being closely watched. This election season is particularly more gripping because of new political developments. Claims and promises are largely centered around development, secularism and corruption. It is being believed that with these issues, you all will be able to woo all sections of the population. However, the truth is that still millions of people are being left out.
You have missed out on millions of people for whom these promises of development, secularism and corruption hold no meaning. We are talking about the people residing in the AFSPA-imposed states of North East and Jammu & Kashmir. Their voices, their concerns have been ignored. But this is also not the only time. They have been ignored for decades.
Reports by NHRC, by several national and international independent human rights’ committees have shown how AFSPA has become a symbol of cruelty and arbitrariness in these states. They have led to extra-judicial killings, torture, rapes, disappearances and fake encounters. AFSPA has disrupted civilian life. In these states, it is an everyday struggle to save one’s life and honour. So in these states, your claims and promises of development, secularism and corruption hold no meaning until basic human rights are guaranteed to these people. They need to be promised and be given the right to life. Your promises of development are incomplete and impossible without the repeal of AFSPA. Where is the place for your symbols of ‘development’ in the cities torn apart regularly by the repressive state machinery and military? Where schools and public parks are transformed into military camps? How will there be development in the shadows of guns? Your promise of challenging corruption is another utopia. You cannot challenge corruption without challenging AFSPA because AFSPA is the face of corruption- a corruption of humanity. AFSPA has been caught in the blame game. While the state government will put the blame on the centre, the centre will put the blame on army. The army will also justify its stand by blaming the Government’s failure to administer. However, the truth is that AFSPA is a mask. It has many beneficiaries.
All your promises are useless there. The promise of a better future is intertwined with the repeal of AFSPA from these states. You cannot ignore this issue. Repeal of AFSPA is the only way forward. It is the only way forward for a better India. Repeal of AFSPA is a democratic and humanitarian issue. AFSPA is a blot on the world’s largest democracy. It is a shame that Irom Sharmila has entered her 14th year of hunger-strike against AFSPA. It is a shame that while she and her heroic struggle are internationally respected, her own government is not bothered. While her heroic struggle has challenged the conscience of the world, the conscience of her own government remains unchallenged. While her struggle shows her faith in the democratic values of the country, her government has no respect for democracy.
Democracy gives you a platform to contest between each other, but at the same time democracy wants you to be humane. Is your party a humane one? Does your party consider democracy as people’s mandate or is it just another method of acquiring power? Do you support the heroic struggle by people of J&K and North East against brutal and draconian AFSPA?
We want democracy, a democracy without any derogation. A democracy, where humanity should be the foremost promise.
Therefore, we appeal to all political parties who believe in democracy, equality and justice to take up this issue of repeal of AFSPA.
ELECTION 2014- Don’t Forget AFSPA
Issued by,
Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign
http://repealafspa.blogspot.com
Endorsed by:
1. Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA Secretary and CPI(ML) Politburo Member
2. Vrinda Grover, Advocate and Activist
3. Ravi Nitesh, SSSC
4. Devika Mittal, SSSC
5. V Arun Kumar, AISA
6. Kalita Rupam, SSSC
7. Aslam Khan, RYA
8. Amar Kanwar, Filmmaker and writer
9. Meena Saraswathi Seshu, General Secretary Of SANGRAM, Maharashtra
10. Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Feminist and human rights activits, Mumbai
11. Nilanju Dutta, Jagori
12. Vasanth Kannabiran, Asmita Resource Center for Women, Hyderabad
13. Rituparna Borah, Queer Feminist Activist, New Delhi
14. Prof. Nandini Sundar, Academician and Activist
15. N. Jayaram, Journalist
16. Shreya Ila Anasuya, Activist
17. Queer Feminists India
18. Reclaim The Night Delhi
19. Lesley A Esteves, Queer Activist, New Delhi
20. Shraddha Chickerur, Activist
21. Vahida Nainar, Activist
22. Dr. Sagari Ramdas
23. Mini Mathew, Advocate
24. LABIA Queer Feminist LBT Collective, Mumbai
25. Nandita Narain, Delhi University
26. Ubaid Mushtaq, Scholar, IIT BOMBAY
27. Chhaya Datar
28. Jinee Lokaneeta
29. Rohini Hensman, Writer And Activist
30. Kaveri R. I., Hyderabad
31. Rakhi Sehgal, Hero Honda Theka Mazdoor Sangathan, Haryana
32. Juhi Jain, Feminist Activist/Writer
33. Gayatri Buragohain, Foundation For Social Transformation
34. Dheeraj Gaba, Founder Of Rooh (A Rural Organization Of Humanity)
35. Satyashodhak, Mumbai
36. Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar
37. Zaheeb Ajmal, Samar
38. Jayachandran R, The Civil Rights And Social Justice Society(CRSJS), Kerala
39. Sukla Sen, Ekta (Committee For Communal Amity), Mumbai
40. Jawad Mohammed
41. Madhu Bala, Jagori
42. Saumya Uma, Women’s Research & Action Group (WRAG)
43. Ramlath Kavil
44. Aruna Burte, Solapur
45. Anuradha Kapoor, SWAYAM, Kolkata
46. Lalita Ramdas, Activist
47. Shruti Batra
48. Uma V Chandru, WSS, Bangalore
49. Prof. Dr. Vibhuti Patel, SNDT Women’s University
50. Deepti, Saheli Women
51. Mohammad Imran, Activist
52. Voices Against 377
53. Dyuti, Student
54. Ridhima Mehra
55. Richa, Jan Abhiyan Sanstha, Himachal Pradesh
56. Abha , Jagori Grameen
57. Nimisha, Olakh, Vadodara
58. Kavita Panjabi
59. Wahengbam Joykumar Singh, Secretary of Human Rights Initiative, Imphal
60. Ningthoukhongjam Rajesh, North East News Network
61. Walter Fernandes, Scholar and Activist
62. Ashim jain, ICAN
63. Subhash Mohapatra, Global Human Rights Communications
64. Viren Lobo, ICAN
65. Prithvi Sharma, ICAN
66. Kiran Shaheen, Activist, Journalist, Member-ICAN
67. Manzoor Dar, Social Activist, J&K
68. Rashmi Talwar, Columnist-Journalist-Writer
69. Ameeque Jamei, PCPT
70. Jyoti Punwani, Journalist Activist, Mumbai
71. Ghazanafar Abbas, Youth Activist and Journalist, Delhi
72. D.Gabriele Pennurimai Iyakkam, NAPM
73. Antony Arulraj, Hotline Delhi
