''This Act has been in use for long and has lost its relevance in view of the emerging role of the civil society in violence-prone areas,'' he said, addressing the closing function of the 12th Northeast Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA) Conference at the Meghalalaya Legislative Assembly here.
Stating that AFSPA has alienated the civil society while fighting insurgency, Mr Mooshahary said, ''We cannot contain insurgency related violence by alienating the citizens; we can do so more effectively by involving them.''
The civil police, which represents the civil society, needs to be strengthened and reliance on the armed forces reduced for greater cooperation with the citizens in fighting insurgency, the former NSG Chief added.
Observing that Meghalaya and Mizoram, which had suffered from the menace of insurgency and terrorism, are now peaceful, while Tripura is also free from insurgency-related violence and so is Nagaland, Mr Mooshahary said.
Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim never had insurgency and violence.
Only Manipur continues to be a difficult state with violence continuing unabated, the Governor said.
Stating that the prolonged insurgency problem is fast changing for the better in the region, Mr Mooshahary said, expressing disappointment to find that seven of the eight North Eastern States are in downward spiral with the net per capita income below the national-level.
Welcoming the Meghalaya Governors rejection of the AFSPA, former Manipur chief minister Radhabinod Koijam said, ''This Act has divided India. This attitude of the Government of India of not treating us at par with other states, which are also afflicted with violence, has alienated the people.''
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