Anti-AFSPA activists file RTI application at PMO
Anti-AFSPA activists file RTI application at PMO
Today on Monday 17 September 2007, an application under the Right-to-Information (RTI) Act has been filed by Suchi Pande in New Delhi demanding PMO (Prime Minister's Office) to provide vital information pertinent to not only Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission but also Veerappan Moily Administrative Reforms Committee, which were Government-appointed bodies formed to review Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Dr Sandeep Pandey meeting Irom Sharmila
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It
is understood that these two reports recommended repealing
the AFSPA that had led to gross violations of human rights
by Indian troops in the conflict ridden region.
In October 2006, Union Home Ministry had
endorsed the recommendations of the Justice Jeevan Reddy
Commission to repeal AFSPA (online at:
http://www.e-pao.net/epRelatedNews.asp?heading=1&src=071005
). The Act is still in force in Manipur, Assam and
Nagaland.
Today also marks the fifth day of
solidarity fast going on from September 13 at Keishampat
junction, Imphal, Manipur, in support of Irom Chanu
Sharmila, who has been fasting since past 7 years, demanding
to repeal the AFSPA.
The RTI application demands
certified copies of the following three vital information
related to AFSPA:
* The reports of both the above
mentioned commissions on AFSPA and their
recommendations
* What action has been taken by the
Government of India to comply with the recommendations of
the above mentioned two government appointed bodies on
AFSPA
The RTI application also makes a note that
"If the PIO [Public Information officer of PMO] is of the
view that the information or part thereof requested falls
under section 8(1) of the RTI Act and is therefore exempt,
please note that the PIO must read section 8 (1) and section
10 together and make available relevant portions of both the
reports that are not exempt under section 8(1); at the same
time as per section 10 provide reasons for the exempted
sections".
The present UPA Government had
constituted the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission in 2004 to
review AFSPA in response to an intensive campaign led by
'Apunba Lup'. The 'Apunba Lup' in Manipur observed Anti-army
Act Day on September 11 to mark the completion of five
decades of the act in the North-East.
"It is not
only the North-East region but the human rights violations
are going on in almost every place of India . Uttar Pradesh
has the highest number of encounter killings in the country,
but there is no draconian law like the AFSPA there. The
Government of India is biased against North-East and J&K in
this aspect" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee
(2002) and leader of NAPM (National Alliance of People's
Movements) and Asha Parivar.
The AFSPA which is
operative at the time of a 'suspected' riot(s) in order to
'maintain public order', allows killing by shooting,
entering and search of property, and arbitrary detention,
etc., its abuse is currently spawning grave human rights
violations in some parts of India. Under the powers of
AFSPA, on 2 November 2000, the Indian military opened fire
on its own citizens in the state of Manipur.
Since then, Irom Sharmila, a resident of the
tragic state, has refused to eat and drink anything in
resistance to indiscriminate use of the AFSPA against
civilians.
The response of the Indian government to
her resistance has been repetitively evasive: the government
has repeatedly arrested her on a charge of 'attempted
suicide', confined her in hospitals, and then freed her
under applicable law, but, up until now, has failed to
provide any fundamental alternative to the law in
question.
Now RTI Act gives a beacon of hope to the
people demanding AFSPA to be repealed.
ENDS
Bobby Ramakant, is a development journalist writing for newspapers in Asia and Africa.
Below
is wording of original RTI application filed at PMO
today
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To: The Public
Information Officer,
Prime Minster’s Office,
South
Block,
New Delhi - 110011
Sub: Application under the Right to Information Act 2005
Please provide the following information with the respect to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFPSA) 1958:
(1) What do the Justice Jeevan Reddy commitee and the Veerappa Moily administrative reforms commissions say about the Armed Forces Special Powers Act? Please provide certified copies of both these reports and the recommendations made.
(2) What action has been taken by the GoI to comply with the recommendations of these two govt. appointed bodies on AFSPA. Please provide certified copies of the daily progress report.
If the PIO is of the view that the information or part thereof requested falls under section 8(1) of the RTI Act and is therefore exempt, please note that the PIO must read section 8 (1) and section 10 together and make available relevant portions of both the reports that are not exempt under section 8(1); at the same time as per section 10 provide reasons for the exempted sections.
I’m depositing Rs. 10 as application fee.
Thank you!
Suchi Pande
C-17/A DDA
Flats,
Munirka,
New Delhi- 110
067
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