AFSPA 1958: Film Screening and Discussion (December 7)

Date: 7th December 2010, Tuesday
Venue: M.N. Sreenivas Hall, Delhi School of Economics,
Department of Sociology, University of Delhi

Documentary Film: “AFSPA-1958” is a documentary film Script and Directed by Haobam Pebam Kumar a well-known documentary film maker. AFSPA 1958 was awarded INTERNATIONAL FIPRESCI CRITICS JURY AWARD (MIFF2006);INTERNATIONAL JURY AWARD (MIFF 2006);THE JURY PRIZE (10th Ismailia International Film Festival 2006);A.C.T. Award to AFSPA 1958 for the Best Film that deals with women problems, subjects, concerns and rights in the official competition of the 10th Ismailia International Film Festival 2006;BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD (SIGNS 2006, Kerala/India);BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD (6th KARA International Film Festival, 2007, Pakistan) ; Awarded the Swarna Kamal for the Best Non-Feature Film in the 56th NATIONAL FILM AWARDS FOR THE YEAR 2008 It tries to capture the everyday life of the people in “disturbed area” in the case of Manipur who lives under one of the most draconian law enacted by the post- independent India. It shows some of the experiences, life, pain, helplessness, anger, resistance, rejection, and calls for support to the progressive peoples from the story of atrocities, humiliation, insecurity of life and dignity. It documented after 2004, July 10, Miss Manorama who was taken away by the Assam Rifles from her residence after giving an arrest memo to her family. She was raped and murdered. 11 women protested without any cloths, a student leader Mr. Chitarenjan performed self immolation; many students from Manipur University were badly beaten up in front of Governor’s house, people lived under curfew for months, a long mass protest by the people in Manipur and unending non violent protest (hunger strike till justice) by Irom Sharmila Chanu to repeal AFSPA. For the first time in the history of post independent India, national security legislation was forced to review under a commission appointed by Prime Minister and resulted no result.

Abstract: AFSPA is essentially one of the colonial acts like Indian Forest Act 1927, Indian Penal Code, Indian Land Acquisition Act, the Criminal Tribe Act 1871 etc. It is originated from Armed Forces (ordinance) 1942 and passed as Armed Forces (Manipur and Assam) Special Power Act in 1958 in parliament. After the implementation of this act in certain regions or people of the state, it can be stated that laws are made on the basis of race, religion and people. The idea of rule of law without any difference on the basis of sex, race, color, and people of a modern democratic state has been compromised by this very implementation of this act in the last 5 decades in some part of this country. Why such kind of law can exist so long? What is the politic of this act? How AFSPA can be understood in an academic and public discourse? How can we imagine the society under AFSPA-1958?

2.30 pm: Documentary Film: “AFSPA-1958”
Discussion:
3.40 pm: Indian State, AFSPA-1958 and Rule of Law
by
Dr. Sudha Vasan
Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, DU

4.10pm: Human Rights and Security Law in India (AFSPA)
by
Colin Gonsalves
Supreme Court Lawyer and Human Right Activist

You are requested to kindly witness this documentary film and take part on the discussion.