Dimapur, October 18 2009: International Indigenous Youth Network (IIYN) has demanded the release of civil society leader Jiten Yumnam, along with seven of his affiliates who were arrested on September 15, in Imphal.

A release issued by IIYN stated that Yumnam was booked under section 121/121-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 16/18/39 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section O of the Official Secret Act which deal with "attempting to wage war" and "conspiring to commit offenses against the state".

Sections 16/18/39 of UA(P) deals with "unlawful acts of supporting or motivating" of what the state considers insurgents.

Jiten Yumnam is still being detained and it is confirmed he has been tortured.

Jiten is a friend of the Naga people and has a wife and a daughter awaiting the good news of his release The release said that Jiten Yumnam is a dedicated international indigenous youth activist and attended both IIIYN Conferences in the Philippines in 2002, and in Canada in 2005, and is a founding member of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network, a regional network of the IIYN.

He is the joint secretary of the Citizen's Concerns on Dam Development and focused on challenging development aggression and militarization in his region in Northeast India In 2002, the International Indigenous Youth Network made commitments to strengthen its alliances with tribal youth global, to strengthen its solidarity against all forms of colonization, foreign, domestic hegemony and State repression.

His seven affiliates from the All Manipur United Club Organization(AMUCO) viz Sungchen Koireng, Likmabam Tompok, A.Soken, Irom Brojen, Toarem Ramanda, G.Sharat Kabui, and Thiyam Dinesh have been arrested by Singjamei police, and Imphal West Police Some of them have already been booked under the National Security Act (NSA) and face up to one year of prison if convicted others could also face the same fate .

They have been imprisoned, allegedly tortured and charged under legislations that are reserved only for "criminals".

Their only crime was protest, a legitimate right of any citizen anywhere against policies that destroy humanity and sustainability.

The IIYN demanded the release of these eight people, and that all charges against them be dropped along with an independent investigation conducted into.

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