Red Shield Division throws open human rights door to media
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 26 2009: In a rare and extremely significant gesture, the Red Shield Division invited media persons to a seminar on Human Rights at Leimakhong today, wherein Army officers were educated on the finer aspects of human rights as well as the constraints faced by them in counter-insurgency operations in conflict areas like Manipur.

The seminar conducted in three sessions discussed International Laws, philosophy and Guiding Principles of Human Rights, Human Rights-Legal Aspects and AFSPA and Role of Media with Special Reference to North East States.

Media persons pose with the GOC of 57 Mountain Division after the seminar on human rights

Brigadier MB Anand (Retd) gave a detailed account of International Humanitarian Laws as well as Human Rights Laws in the first session.

Adding to the liveliness of the seminar was the active participation by the officers and the questions and answers session that followed.

Contentious questions on how troops should react when they come under threat from child soldiers were some of the interesting points raised by Brig MB Anand.

Army PRO Colonel Rajesh Mishra touched on the sensitive topic of the mutual suspicion between the media and the security forces and need to remove this hurdle.

Quoting examples, the PRO stressed on the need for the security personnel to be more sensitive to the issues at hand.

Addressing the seminar, Editor of Imphal Free Press, Pradip Phanjoubam sought cleared the misconception of the security personnel the media always overlooks cases of human rights violations by non-State actors while going over board when it comes to the security forces.

Phanjoubam explained the international definition of human rights and explained that this definition does not cover non-State actors.

Earlier in the day, GOC of 57 Mountain Division, Maj Gen Shakti Gurung said that the seminar was organised to increase awareness of human rights and methods of protecting them during CI Ops.

The General also highlighted the idea that the concept of human rights is not alien to India as it is ingrained in 'our history, culture, customs and traditions'.

Stressing on the need for a humane approach, the GOC stressed on the ten commandments of the Chief of Army Staff.

On AFSPA Maj Gen Shakti Gurung said that it must remain within the fundamentals of 'good faith,' 'impartiality' and respect for the 'law of the land'.