Friends i wrote a letter to the president. Kindly tell me ur views? don't u think that this act should stop?

Question

The President
Dear Sir,
The other day I was reading an article printed in “The Hindustan Times” dated 1st March 20007 naming “Forget Her Not”. It was a story about a woman named “Iroma Sharmila Chanu”, who has been on a fast for more than six years now protesting against the “Armed Forces Special Power Act” (AFSPA) in Manipur. She began when she was 28. She is 34 now. The AFSPA gives the armed forces unchallenged powers to arrest, search, shoot and kill on suspicion alone. It has been grossly misused in Manipur for past 49 years. Army officials have raped women in front of their families. Many people have simply disappeared only to be found later with bullets in their bodies.
The uncertainty and trauma of living in such an atmosphere is something that we can’t understand. In any case, how can we understand when we are never even told about it? Sharmila began her fast in Manipur but came to India in 2006.

Answer 1

If you see this as a "human" issue which transcends countries and politics, you may want to look at what the United States government is currently doing.

Depriving people of rights (due process or otherwise) in Manipur or India is the same as depriving rights in Indiana or some island off the coast of Florida (you know the one). The latter is being effectuated by the United States Government.

Our government is currently designing new and different ways to deprive human beings from those fundamental rights. I know this because I am a prosecutor. But, I refuse to become part of that machine... My goal is justice.

I know you feel strongly about Chanu, but there are MILLIONS of people who happen to be dying of afflictions in the US and elsewhere that can be treated by medication while our government pours billions of dollars into fighting the (self-imposed) war in Iraq.

I won't even get into the Educational neglect that our great county has imposed upon our children.

It astounds me that we Americans can't see beyond our own backyard when thinking about global issues; but it scares the hell out of me that we don't care enough about our own future to even locally fund it.

Answer 2

The act should be repealed immediately. Such an act blatantly infringes on the liberty of an individual.
The army's duty is to protect the nation and that does not validate their atrocities.
Today it is AFSPA, tomorrow it will be another act aegis of national security. If something is not done about AFSPA, the Government will be encouraged to invoke more laws with sweeping powers and arbitrary actions. The Patriot Act in the US which has been grossly misused is a case in point. Let us pray that India will not slip into such a situation.
All said and done, the people of Manipur don't seem to thinking along these lines. They have given the incumbent government a resounding mandate!

Answer 3

AFSPA was enacted for Manipur, why?
Who is responsible for the terrorist activities in Manipur and other North-eastern states?
There is a cause-effect relation between my above two questions. There is a reported mis-use of powers by Armed forces, in the above letter, which is intolerable and competent authorities must respond by taking corrective actions. But, not to protect the wrong doings of any one, there is problem faced by armed forces to segregate terrorists from the common population, where they find lack of support for the national cause and support for anti-national activities plus the constant stress & pressure they face in those remote areas without a word of appreciation for the good work done. From their experience or hear say, they have pre-conceptions about local population and find it difficult to identify terrorists from common man, when they find local population willingly or un-willingly supporting acts or atleast not condemning acts of terrorism. I can't forget 1980-81 attack on Hindi speaking common men in Manipur by the local manipuri speaking persons (I was a young student of class-11, then and studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Lamphelpat, Imphal).

First consider yourself an Indian, act accordingly and you will find whole of India standing with you for the just cause. Not that you play at the hands of anti-nationals to get popularism in the disguise of efforts for humanitarianism. As you feel the pinch of intolerable wrong act of some armed force personnel, you must also oppose the wrong doing of 27 separatist groups of Manipur.

Problem of such type exist in all parts of world because of lack of proper education and the brutality & power-show they are tought unknowingly. To make a caring - loving world, we need to work with modifying our education system to impart education which can transform us and make real human beings.

Answer 4

Yes , you did excellant. But do you think raising voice through a letter to higher office in Indian Govt. will effect anywhere.... I appreciate once again your effort, but do you think the news you read from Hindustan Times and not more than the woman has been on a fast for more than six years. Is all this are in invisible mode to our President. For him and all higher officials this may be out one lakh issue. Who cares about whom, proved very well in country.

Hope you will put more efforts to raise the voice against same issues ............

Answer 5

Are you addressing India's highest authorities? They should be the ones you are writing to. If they do not care write to some human rights advocates to get them involved. Sorry to say, America's President has alot on his plate. You can also write Nancy Pelosi and see if she gives a hoot about your plight. Good Luck.

Answer 6

Definitely but how can a person on a fast last for 6 years?

Answer 7

Yes you are right , we cannot judge every body in the army are good some corrupt persons also will be there in all fields teh may take this type of advantage,

Answer 8

You did a correct thing !!.Our President is also the supreme commander of all the three forces-Army, Navy, and Air force .

Answer 9

Ithinkthat it is a good way to find out what he thinks since we are the ones that put him in office

Answer 10

thanks for sharing ur letter,cause i too wasnt aware of the plight of people over there.keep up the good work.
but my friend manipur falls in india (refer to ur last line)