Dozens of fighting women of Manipur demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act staged a protest demonstration in Delhi on January 25, 2008, in front of parliament. This demonstration heralds the beginning of a new wave of protests demanding the repeal of the fascist Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958) and putting an end to army rule in Manipur and other states of India.

Today, nearly 90% of the Indian Army is deployed in the North East and Kashmir, in so called "counter insurgency operations" against the people of these regions. All regions of India are thus militarized, wherein the armed forces are the law. The armed forces carry on rape and murder, loot and plunder, all in the name of defending "national unity and territorial integrity".

The impunity granted to army personnel under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act denies people any possibility of justice. In addition, such total impunity has also allowed the use of extra judicial killings by state promoted renegade groups, like the SULFA in Assam and the Ikhwaanis in Kashmir. AFSPA constitutes a gross violation of human rights.

The people of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam and Kashmir have been waging a resolute struggle for the repeal of this fascist law, and for sending the armed forces back where they belong – to the barracks. The people have been fighting for a political solution to the problems facing them.

However, the government of India has ignored the demands of the people, showing its utter contempt for the will of the people. Obviously the will of the people of Kashmir, and the peoples of North East do not matter for the Indian ruling class. They continue to think that they can rule over the peoples of these regions by crushing them under the jackboots of the army.

Three and half years ago, on July 15, 2004, the brave women of Manipur had participated in a historic demonstration in front of the then headquarters of the 17 Assam Rifles at the Kangla Fort in the city centre of Imphal. Carrying a banner which said "Indian Army - rape us" they protested the illegal arrest, rape, torture and murder of Thangjam Manorama – one among many gross violations of human rights carried out with impunity by the armed forces under the AFSPA. Their protest awakened the conscience of people all over India. It brought home the terrible conditions under which the people of Manipur, the women and men, the youth and students, are carrying on their lives under the jackboots of the armed forces.

Entire Manipur rose up demanding the repeal of the AFSPA. All over India, workers and peasants, women and youth, came out in the streets demanding the repeal of the unjust and fascist AFSPA.

The Central Government set up a Commission to look into this demand of the people of India and Manipur. Despite the recommendation of the Commission that AFSPA be repealed, the Government has refused to do so.

Some of these brave and indomitable women of Manipur who shook the conscience of India on July 15, 2004 have now come to Delhi to take the struggle for repeal of AFSPA to a new stage. People's Voice hails the indomitable spirit of these brave sisters and mothers. People's Voice vows to carry on the struggle for the repeal of the fascist AFSPA, and for an end to army rule in Manipur and other regions.