ALSU demands repeal of APUAPA

| Staff REPORTER |

ITANAGAR, Jun 6: Claiming that the Arunachal Pradesh Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (APUAPA) 2014 can be misused by the state authorities, the Arunachal Law Students’ Union (ALSU) has on Tuesday called for repealing the controversial law.

“APUAPA is very dangerous and a draconian law. And there is no requirement for such a law in our state. Citizens of the state are still unaware of this law and we cannot even imagine how it can be misused by the authorities or the state government,” said issue chairman Gyamar Maya while addressing a press conference here.

ALSU in this regard has submitted a representation to the Chief Minister. “In our representation we have highlighted the dangerous sections or lacunas of this particular law which needs to be repealed,” Gyamar said.

Gyamar informed that the union will soon launch a movement - “A citizens’ call and right to freedom of speech, right to live” against this law.

“According to APUAPA, unlawful activity means acting in such a manner so as to cause or likely to cause directly or indirectly feeling of insecurity, danger or fear among the general public or a section thereof or any- danger to the safety of individuals, safety of public, public health or the ecological system or disruption of daily supplies and essential services to public or any loss or damage to public exchequer or to any public or private property or enforce on general public activities declared as illegal by the State or prohibited by State Government under section 144 of CrPC or any other order for the time being in force such as bandh through intimidation or psychological fear or threat and causing actual damage to public or private property.

In simple words, the definition of ‘unlawful activity’ provided under this Act, is to bring about any democratic movement under the ambit of unlawful activities. Such an exhaustive and vague definition of ‘unlawful activity’ practically amplifies the potential of this legislation being misused in the hands of the state authority to silence the popular voice of the people against the wrongdoings of the state. This vague definition of unlawful activity literally makes this piece of legislation unfettered and draconian in nature that empowers the govt of the day to silence the popular voice of the people, which is against the rights of constitutional democracy,” he said.

Gyamar also said that APUAPA is the copy paste of the National Security Act, 1980, which is a very powerful legislation and the objective of this legislation was very different. “We notice that the state government is using this to just silence the popular voice of the people, who voice against the government, which is against the rights of constitutional democracy,” he further added.