UN Rapporteur regarding the 'forced' eviction
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 26 2012:
The Indian Government has failed to give satisfactory reply to the queries raised by the UN Special Rapporteur regarding the 'forced' eviction of 15 houses from Lamphel Yaipha Leikai on June 6 last year, displaced persons have alleged.
Speaking to reporters, one of the displaced persons, Tongbram Sunadhor said that the 15 houses were evicted by the State Government in the name of setting up NIT and protection of wetland at Lamphelpat last year.
The matter was however discussed at the 19th conference of Human Rights Council of UN General Assembly on February 23 this year.
It was deliberated by the global body under the UN Mandate, 'Adequate Housing' under Case No IND 13/2011, he added.
Consequent upon the said deliberation, UN Special Rapporteur Raquel Rolink forwarded the proceedings of the Case IND 13/2011 with a set of querries regarding the matter to the Government of India, Tongbram Sunadhor said.
He added, Raquel queried the India Government whether the displaced families had complained them against the eviction.
The UN Special Rapporteur also questioned whether the displaced families/persons were consulted before the eviction.
He also inquired regarding the provisions of compensation and rehabilitation of the displaced persons.
However, the Government of India has failed to give any satisfactory response to the UN intervention other than an acknowledgement letter which mentions 'the matter is being looked into' .
Maintaining that the displaced families had been residing at Lamphel Yaipha Leikai for the past 40 years, T Sunadhor asserted that they have become forced refugees in their own State.