'Condemn hurling grenade at Governors residence'

Shillong, February 20th 2021 :

Statement from North East Dialogue Forum

We strongly condemn the shocking incident of hurling a hand grenade at the Governor’s residence at main gate of Raj Bhawan, Imphal on 19th January 2021 at around 4:15 PM.

We are shocked due to the series of bomb attack to Poknapham daily newspaper office on 13th Feb 2021 at around 6:30 PM and at Moreh ward No.7 on 17th Feb 2021 at 9:30 PM by unknown persons. Such kind of grave threat, intimidation, and harassment is not uncommon in the lives of the people in Manipur and other states of North East India which is believe to be organized under the political environment of AFSPA.

Such Inhumane act of violence is the threat to the civilian population with grave concern. With serious concern, we extend our solidarity to the journalists. We also received information from the credible sources that some members of the armed group are roaming around with small arms at one part of Tengnaopal District.

Allowing to operate two separate factions of UGs in Moreh which are suspected to be back by the members of security forces deployed in Manipur for counter insurgency operation. There was a report of killing one members of UG and injured one civilian in Moreh on 23 January 2021 at around 11.30 am which was during the brought day light. We are surprised how this kind of activities which is threat to the peace are allow to happen in town where lot of security and intelligent agencies are operating.

For the counter insurgency response both state and central government empower Indian Army, para military forces especially Assam Rifle and Police Commandos to check such kind of issue challenging to the human rights under Armed Conflict and AFSPA.

Bomb attacks at the public places, media, markets, hospitals etc are war crimes. Such act of violence is challenging to the citizen of India and constitution of the country. The concern authorities need to take this continuous violence seriously. Such kind of inhuman acts committed by the unknown persons seems to be not possible without backing of powerful people or agencies or institutions.

We humbly urge to all the concern authorities, institutions of security forces, investigating agencies, legal authorities to act seriously against such act against humanity. We further urge to the Government of India to fully protect the lives of the civilians in Manipur because we are the victims of armed conflict for many decades without significant reason.

We urge to the government and India to review the security situation in Manipur and India to review the security situation in Manipur by an independent, impartial commission to find out the people who committed such an act of violence. We also urge to expedite the investigation and submission of charge sheet of the cases of Extrajudicial Execution by the CBI and NHRC at the earliest because the present investigation is under pressure and delay.

We with deep concern urge the government of Manipur and India to repeal the Disturb Area act and AFSPA 1958 immediately. We also humbly urge to our government to allow the media house to function without fear, fear of attacks, kidnapping, threat and intimidation by respecting Act 19 of Indian Constitution (freedom of expression, speech & freedom of Association and Assembly)

We urge to the monitoring Committee of the government of India and Manipur to make the report of the committee on the status of ceasefire and SOO and function of the cadres under the procedures immediately for the participation of the public.

We strongly urge to Government of Manipur to communicate and recommend to Govt of India to withdraw all the security forces and members of the UGs deploy in Moreh area immediately to restore peace in Moreh. We also with strong concern request to all the concern parties to participate by contributing to mitigate in the war crime activities in our state.

(Mr. Rebati Raman)
Member
North East Dialogue Forum