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| Headlines Vol. 2 Issue7-8 | June 22- July 6 , 1999 |
Manipur Govt. draws flak for declaring the State as a 'disturbed area' Several opposition parties in Manipur have condemned the State Government's declaration of the entire State as 'disturbed area' from June 1 for a period of six months under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. Senior CPI leader Moirangthem Ibohal said in a statement that the CPI had opposed the deployment of security forces with 'extra power' under the Armed Forces Act to tackle insurgents in the State because the insurgency problem could be solved only through political dialogue. The security forces violated human rights including cases of rape, on the pretext of combating insurgency, Mr. Ibohal said. Insurgents could not be contained this way because of the wrong policy of the government, he maintained. In another statement, the Manipur People's Party president Okram Joy Singh said although the Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act had the constitutional validity, the State Government could not control or check the excesses or atrocities committed by security forces under the Act in the name of dealing with insurgents. O. Joy Singh also criticised the ruling coalition ministry for not consulting the Opposition parties before declaring the entire State as disturbed area under the Act. Former chief minister and senior Congress leader, Rishang Keishing, general secretary of the Manipur unit of Janata Party Loitongbam Iboyaima Singh and several other political parties also criticised the State Government. The State Government has declared the entire State of Manipur as disturbed area under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 for a period of six months with effect from June 1 last for unprecedented increase in the commission of crimes. State Chief Secretary H. Jel Shyam had said the notification superseded all previous orders issued in this regard. The Chief Secretary said there had been unprecedented increase in killing of innocent persons, police, military and paramilitary personnel, dacoity, arson, sedition, offences committed by insurgent outfits and other sorts of violence. Meanwhile, Sadar Hills District Demand Committee has demanded demarcation of the proposed Sadar Hills District areas and establishment and shifting of Government offices to Kangpokpi (Senapati district). If the district is not created early, Kuki ministers may be asked to resign and fresh agitation will be launched. |
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