Bodies flay
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 03 2014:
Human Rights Alert, Manipur Alliance for Child Rights and United NGO Mission, Manipur have strongly denounced the alleged threat by the Army to the family members of Alice Kamei� who has been in the custody of the PLA.
Instead of protecting the child who is in the custody of an underground group, security forces have harassed the family members who are in a state of mental agony and enduring the pangs of separation from their child, the bodies alleged while also urging the underground groups to respect International conventions.
Whether the child joined the outfit with her consent or was forcibly recruited as a child soldier, keeping children below 18 years of age in custody is in contravention of International Criminal Code and UN Convention on the Rights of Children, the bodies said during a press meet today.
Alice Kamei, the daughter of Chakri Tombi Kamei and Sundari Kamei of Ishok Terapokpi Phingthu under Wangoi PS had gone missing since March 14, 2013 .
The 13 years old girl remained traceless even as series of protests were launched demanding her release.
The PLA/RPF later claimed that the girl had joined the outfit with her own consent.
Security personnel in camouflage uniform reportedly went to the residence of Alice Kamei in the intervening night of April 6 and 7.Sundari, the mother of Alice broke down when the security personnel asked the family members why they did not inform the security forces about the return of Alice.
The army personnel's attempt to take the father of Alice along with them was thwarted when Sundari screamed for help.
Again on May 31 four police personnel quizzed Alice's father regarding his child at Ishok Bazar.
Addressing the press meet, President of Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, K Pradip said that it is not admissible for any armed outfit to accept a child below 18 years of age even if a child insists to join the outfit.
The security forces should rescue a child who is in the custody of an armed outfit and handed over to Juvenile Justice Board for keeping in an Observation Home after registering an FIR instead of criminalising and victimising the child.
Babloo Loitongbam of Human Rights Alert said that harassing the family members of Alice would deter the child from returning to the mainstream and made her feels unsafe and insecure.
He appealed all concerned to refrain from such acts and instead pave way for the child to return to the mainstream.