#Activists hail repeal of 'draconian' AFSPA by #Tripura & #Indian #Government. Lifting of #AFSPA in #Tripura hailed as #victory for #sanity.

Tripura withdraws Afspa after 18 years as insurgent activities dip

Agartala; May 29, 2015

Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar speaking at a press conference

The Left-ruled Tripura on Wednesday decided to withdraw the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (Afspa), which gives sweeping powers and judicial immunity to security forces in conflict-hit areas, due to a decrease in militancy-related incidents in Tripura.
The decision to withdraw the law, that was enforced in the state 18 years ago to curb insurgency, was taken during a cabinet meeting held at the Civil Secretariat.

"We have reviewed the situation of the disturbed areas of the state after every six months and also discussed the issue with the state police and other security forces working in the state. They suggested that there is no requirement of the act now as the insurgency problem has largely been contained. We would soon issue gazette notification in this regard," chief minister Manik Sarkar told reporters.
"The decisions were taken in view of the decrease of militancy-related incidents in Tripura over the last few years. However, the security forces would be watchful over the situation," said Sarkar.
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Sarkar, who also holds the home portfolio, said plying of vehicles along the Assam-Agartala national highway (NH-44) - the lifeline of Tripura - would be allowed until midnight instead of 10pm.
Tripura has 74 police stations and Afspa was in force in 30 police station areas. It was fully operational in 26 police station areas and partially in four.

The Afspa was imposed in the state on February 16, 1997 when terrorism was at its peak in the state, bordering Bangladesh.
"Though the four-and-half-decade-old terrorism has been tamed in Tripura, the state government is always cautious about the terror outfits and their activities," an official with the home department told IANS.
Rights groups and political parties, including the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist and the tribal-based Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT) and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, have described the law as "draconian" and have been demanding the withdrawal of Afspa.

"As the government has taken the decision after a prolonged time, we express our satisfaction on the decision," said Jagadish Debbarma, general secretary of the INPT.
The Afspa is also in force in Manipur (excluding the Imphal Municipal Council area), Assam and Nagaland and in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Lifting of AFSPA in Tripura hailed as victory for sanity

Tripura government's decision to withdraw AFSPA from the state was today hailed by former Home Minister P Chidambaram as victory for sanity and humanity while Hurriyat's moderate faction hoped it will serve as an "eye opener" for political parties in Jammu and Kashmir.

"My plea to repeal AFSPA heard in Tripura. AFSPA withdrawn. Victory for sanity and humanity," Chidambaram wrote on microblogging site Twitter.The senior Congress leader had strongly advocated, as Union Home Minister, for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958. "Some things do not have a place in a civilised country. One of them is AFSPA," he had said recently.

Welcoming the decision, CPI demanded that the Centre repeal the law. Expressing concern over alleged abuse of the act leading to violation of human and democratic rights of locals resulting in their alienation, CPI said that what the CPI-M government had done in Tripura is the "right thing". "There has been the demand in North-East including Manipur that AFSPA be repealed. A similar demand has also been raised in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Over the years, use and abuse of the act has led to violation of human and democratic rights and led to alienation of local people. The new situation demands that Centre should review the situation and ensure AFSPA is repealed. Tripura has done the right thing," CPI leader D Raja said. The moderate faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said the revocation of AFSPA from Tripura should serve as an "eye opener" for the ruling class of J&K who make "loud claims" about the revocation of this "draconian" law from the state, "but in reality have no interest or intentions to do so".

A Hurriyat spokesman also said it is a bold decision. "Many governments came and pledged to revoke AFSPA from the state but all these pledges and claims proved to be blatant lies made just for public consumption," he added.