WAD denounces blasts
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 07 2014:
Women Action for Development (WAD) has strongly condemned the recent series of bomb blasts resulting in loss of innocent lives including women and children.
"WAD is calling to all the concerned to ensure that civilian lives are protected during armed conflict in Manipur.
The civilian population of Manipur experience far too much unnecessary tragedy, IED blasts and loss of even life in recent days in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law," said a statement issued by Sobita Mangsatabam, secretary, WAD while urging all the parties to fully respect the laws of war so that such form of human rights violation is not repeated in future.
"WAD does not see any serious attempt on the part of State to ensure that perpetrators of such crimes are brought to justice," it said.
Under the statute of the International Criminal Court, intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities constitutes a war crime, it pointed out.
Civilians might be the legitimate targets only if they directly participate in hostilities and, even then, only for the period of time during which they are directly participating.
WAD is in the opinion that the recent attack on civilian population seemed to be well designed and systematic and no one is held accountable till date.
It also urged the authority concerned to ensure truth, justice to those people who are affected by such unjustifiable crimes while appealing to all concerned to abide by internationally accepted yardsticks.