Stories that Matter

INDIA: AFSPA, yet another opportunity for the judiciary     Contributors: *Ms. Anjuman Ara Begum Go back to search results August 7, 2013 More Sharing Services Share | Share on facebook Share on myspace Share on google Share on twitter The Commission of Inquiry, constituted by the Supreme Court of India, in Writ Petition (Criminal) 129 of 2012 [Extra Judicial Execution Victims Families' Association and Another (petitioners) Against Union of India and Others (respondents)] and Writ Petition (Civil) 445 of 2012 [Suresh Singh (petitioner) Against Union of India and Others (respondents)] filed its report to the Court on 30 March 2013. This investigation by the Commission was chaired by Justice N. Santhosh Hegde (retired Judge of the Supreme Court and former Solicitor General of India) along with Mr. J. M. Lyngdoh (former Chief Election Commissioner of India) and Dr. Ajai Kumar Singh (former Director General of Police, Karnataka state) as members. Clearly, this inq

NDIA: Irrelevance of National Human Rights Commission in the North East   Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) on the visit of the National Human Rights Commission in Manipur Go back to search results October 29, 2013 More Sharing Services Share | Share on facebook Share on myspace Share on google Share on twitter The Government of India, when it set up the national and the state Human Rights Commissions (NHRC and SHRC) in 1993, the mandate of these commissions excluded atrocities committed by the army and the paramilitary forces. When the Manipur State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) was being constituted, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) was also asked to send a representative to the Commission. The NPMHR after deliberation decided not to participate on the principle, that human rights issues in Northeast India mostly emanated from violations perpetrated by the army and paramilitary forces, and whose acts were shielded by the infamous

INDIA: Disturbed or discriminated?     Contributors: *Ms. Anjuman Ara Begum November 11, 2013 More Sharing Services Share | Share on facebook Share on myspace Share on google Share on twitter The extension of 'disturbed area' status for north eastern states since 1955, and thereby the activation and extension of emergency laws, has been but a routine administrative exercise for the union government. The legacy was upheld this year. The union has again extended the 'disturbed area' status of Assam for another six month period, with effect from 4 November 2013. Despite such back door declarations of emergency laws, India continues to claim internationally that there is no situation of armed conflict in the country. The latest extension means continued application of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) in Assam and in the 20 km area in bordering states of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Reportedly, the decision has been