IMPHAL, Dec 10 (NNN): On the occasion of International Human Rights Day 2010, civil society organizations and human rights activists today highlighted the flimsy stand of the Government of Manipur vis-Ã -vis Human Rights and its dilly-dallying approach in appointing members of human rights commission Manipur.
Although the day has been observed State-wide, the one at Iboyaima Sumang Lila Shanglen in Imphal is unarguably the strongest with 16 different organizations, crusading for human rights and indigenous people’s rights, participating in observing the day under the theme Protecting the Rights to Defend Human Rights. A minute of silence was observed during the program in respect for the people who had sacrificed their lives in defense of human rights.
A Meiteilon (Meitei language) version of the UN declaration on human rights defenders has also been released by Ima Th Khumanleima, mother of late Th Manorama, who was killed by Assam Rifles personnel after having raped and tortured her in 2004.
Dr L Debabrata Roy, president of Centre for Organization Research and Education (CORE), said in his thematic address to the gathering that Government of Manipur has been violating human rights by deferring the election of member of human rights commission Manipur which has been lying vacant for the past many months now.
Simply putting up signboard of human rights commission will not protect the people against violation of human rights in the State, he said, this clearly shows that the Government of Manipur is indifferent about human rights violation in the State.
Sharing her testimony, an elderly woman Ramani has appealed to the Government of Manipur to wake up and take notice of the rampant human rights violation in the State and reinforce the protection of human rights. She has also appealed to the underground outfits operating in the State to forgo violence and work towards peace in the State.
Rihang Chothe said while sharing her testimony that the Government of India has been violating human rights of North East people by clamping the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
There are some eight states in India that are wobbling under the threat posed by Maoist and Naxalites, why isn’t AFSPA implemented in those states, he questioned.
Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared Association Manipur (FIDAM) president, K Ranjit said on the occasion that the Government of Manipur is deliberately deferring the election of member to human rights commission just so it can perpetuate its exploit of the violation of human rights in the State.
The people of Manipur have become smug and passive in response to violation of human rights, he further pointed out, “we should start taking human rights violations personally, even if the victim is not related to us, so that we might be able to stop violation of human rights in Manipur.”
Senior advocate and rights activist Khaidem Mani proposed that the gathering should work out modalities for pressurizing the government so that human rights commission may be reactivated and made functional as before.
Participating organizations on the occasion are: Action Committee Against Tipaimukh (ACTIP), All Manipur Muslim Development Organization (AMMDO), Chanura Lamchinglen Kangleipak (CLK), Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), Committee on Human Rights (COHR Manipur), Centre for Organization Research and Education (CORE), Extrajudicial Execution Victims’ Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM), Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared Association Manipur (FIDAM), Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture (H2H), Human Rights Alert (HRA), Human Rights Initiative (HRI), Just Peace Foundation (JPF), Forum for Indigenous Perspective and Action (FIPA), NACHOM Arts of Contemporary Dance Kampni (NACHOM), PEACE Core Team Manipur, Rongmei Lu Phuam (RLP), Threatened Indigenous Peoples’ Society (TIPS), United NGOs Mission-Manipur (UNMM).
