Info snub on rights violation in State aired at global meet
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 27 2012:
Alleging denial of relevant information with regard to violation of human rights in Manipur, Human Rights Initiative's executive director Wahengbam Joykumar has deplored lengthy process in accessing important details here in the State, at national gathering in New Delhi today.
According to information received here, Joykumar during his presentation on 'Shadow of AFSPA: Denial of Information in Manipur', highlighted not only the strenuous procedures but ultimately deprivation of information, which he described as self-contradictory to the constitution of Manipur Information Commission.
While alleging a number of human rights violation by the security forces under the shadow of Armed Forces' special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958, the rights activist presented a detailed account on the setting up of various panels of Commission of Inquiry and Magisterial Inquiry in between 1980 to 2007 .
Inspite of conforming to prescribed norms in seeking relevant information and the matter apprised to the Supreme Court, all efforts by the petitioner(s) remain futile, said Joykumar while deliberating on his presentation at the 'National Conference on National and Peoples' Right to Information' that commenced from today at the IIPA conference hall in the national capital.
Conveying that the gathering were awestruck when failure of the Manipur Information Commission to provide relevant information was pointed out, Joykumar also regretted frequent insistence by agencies concerned that details could not be provided to the information seekers on account of national security.
The national conference is informed to be a joint initiative of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, New Delhi and Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi with the support of US-based Open Society Justice Initiative.
Delegates from different States comprising of rights activists, lawyers, media persons, RTI applicants and academicians are taking part at the conference.
Objectives of the conference is informed to be to discuss and understand the manner in which public authorities in India have dealt with requests for information relating to national security; to take stock of the decisions of Information Commissions and courts regarding information access disputes in relation to national security; to discuss and refine the global draft principles on national security and the right to information; and to identify advocacy opportunities for strengthening the legal regime relating to national security and access to information.
Other speakers also made detailed presentations on the denial of information by the Home and Defence Ministries as well as intelligence authorities with all agencies citing national security as the prime reason.