International Human Rights Day Observance at Delhi
- Manipur Students' Association Delhi (MSAD) -

New Delhi, 10th December, 2011 *

International Human Rights Day Observance at Delhi on 10 dec 2011

The Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD) had participated in an observance programme on the day of the International Human Rights Day, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. The programme was observed jointly by various institutions, civil organizations and other different student communities wherein almost more than 200 members were present. We also took a march from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar before we settle at Jantar Mantar.

The members took a deliberate discussions and debates on the issues of human rights and its violations in different parts of the world specially India. Many of the members opined for an objective and a democratic procedure for the movement against human rights violations and deprivations.

As one of the organizers of the programme, MSAD had also put a few words on the very issue. MSAD said, today i.e. the “10th of December must be the world’s, mostly the workers’ and the peasants’ happiest day, for, their rights of being human have been suppressed, oppressed and exploited by the bourgeois. However, we the people have been fighting back with positive determinations for these very rights of our own, for more than thousands of years.

If these suppressors, oppressors and exploiters don’t try to give us back the very rights of us, as they have been doing for the last thousands of years, then, we the people would be compelled and determined to fight them for the same, even forcefully, if needed, so that we can teach them a lesson so as to make them understand the real meaning of life, for they are still acting so childishly as far as their minds are concerned. Also, it’s the time that we through our togetherness make such people understand how much wrong they are doing and what can it bring to our societies? So as to gain these very rights, we will be very much needed to fight back with a sense of togetherness.

And, I on behalf of MSAD, assure you all here that, we will always be there to fight for such causes. Also, on this day, we extend our solemn solidarity to those around the globe who are struggling for rights and the democratic movements which are in every part of the world.”

So, I, the undersigned request you to kindly publish the reported news and also the enclosed released statement as a news item on public interest.

With regards,

Mk. Shafikul Haque
President, MSAD

International Human Rights Day Observance at Delhi on 10 dec 2011

The Indian State thrives on its capacity to use coercive and oppressive policies towards various democratic formation of every quarter of the civil society, the Dalit and tribal communities, the minorities and particularly the people of the Northeast and Kashmir. It has dictated various projects of development programmes which are actually surreptitious works to align with the global capitalist corporate giants. It is ever ready to deploy the military forces on any occasion of dissent and dissidence and rights have been crushed under its rampant deployment of military atrocities and draconian legislations.

In the context of such atrocities, the escalating voice of freedom and will to the universally recognised political and civil rights. People have been struggling for basic rights to life and security in order to enjoy a dignified both at individual level and collective level. However, these basic human rights remain elusive from the daily experience of people.

Ever since Manipur was annexed to the Indian Union in 1949 the military rule has been in operation in Manipur and this is legitimized with the imposition of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1958. Since then things are not the same. We have been witness to perpetual physical and psychological assaults under the authority of this Draconian Act. The Indian killings, fake encounter, custodial rapes and murders, tortures, forced disappearance, illegal detentions, forced labour, and destruction of properties. The people of Manipur stand visibly distinct with the haunted experiences of human rights violation, and the severe wounds and mutilations suffered from such atrocities and excess.

It is to remind these facts of our life that we have been living and to face the draconic presence of the India state in Manipur in particular that we have been observing International Human Rights Day on the 10th December every year. It is also to see that we have the courage and desire to adopt the ideal of the principle of human rights for a dignified life which is in fact the spirit of this observance.

We have to strive and continue the struggle to realize our will to freedom, honour and dignity. On this day, we extend our solemn solidarity to those around the globe who are struggling for rights and the democratic movements which are in every part of the world.