North–east Church leaders welcome AFSPA review

Shillong – A joint forum of Church leaders in the north–eastern region of India have expressed their appreciation of the Central Government’s readiness to review the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The Joint Peace Mission Team, comprising Catholic Church in North Eastern India, Presbyterian Church of India, Council Baptist churches in the region, North East India Christian Council, which met in Guwahati and Agartala early this month, expressed satisfaction and welcomed the move.

The forum hoped that any provision introduced as amendment to the existing law and any new law enacted would ensure redressal of justice and make security personnel ‘accountable’ for any "repressive" action.

"We firmly believe that peace and justice would ultimately reign irrespective of creed, colour, language, ethnicity, caste and gender," the joint statement said.