“Dump AFSPA to get berth in UN Security Council”

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 10

Senior advocate, Khaidem Mani said that in order to uphold the values of democracy the government of India should acknowledged that until and unless AFSPA, 1958 is repealed, India cannot be a member of the security council of the United Nation.

Briefing to media persons today at his residence at Loklaobung, Imphal, Mani said that as per common Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ECOSOC) each and every political community has a right to determine and follow political system of its own choice and to follow and practice its own socio, economic and cultural lives.

Though the Indian constitution is the largest and greatest constitution of the world, it inadvertently left out the right of the indigenous peoples of the Northeastern states, he added.

The senior advocate claimed that thousands of people of Northeast (including Manipuri Meitei) are still not considered as either belonging to general, scheduled caste or scheduled tribe though they are all indigenous people and have their distinct way of life.

He appealed to the central government to amend the Article 3 of the constitution as to protect the indigenous people’s right to land and territories.

Mani asked the central government to stop militarisation in the state in the name of national security by using the draconian law like AFSPA, 1958 which is a racial law and appealed to repeal the AFSPA from the state.

He further asked the central government to stop centralism and follow the federalism system.