UNHRC apprised about AFSPA, state of repression
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 06 2014: All the repressive measures unleashed by the Indian military in Manipur under the impunity guaranteed by the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act were presented elaborately during the 26th Interactive Dialogue of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Sobita Mangshatabam, Babloo Loitongbam and Thangjam Dolendro attended the Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women held from June 10 to June 25 .

UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, Its Causes and Consequences Rashida Manju who visited different places of India including Manipur and made a direct assessment of violence faced by women in India in the last part of April, 2013 presented her report on June 12 .

Then representatives from different countries presented reports on violence against women and its preventive measures taken up by their respective countries.

In the next level, representatives of NGOs which enjoys the consultative status of the UN Economic and Social Council gave presentations on the scale and degree of violence against women seen in their respective countries.

Babloo Loitongbam , Sobita Mangshatabam and Thangjam Dolendro

Sobita Mangshatabam representing the Social Service Agency of the Protestant Church in Germany, Babloo Loitongbam representing Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and late Thangjam Manorama's brother Thangjam Dolendro representing World Barua Organisation gave their statements at the interactive dialogue of the UN Human Rights Council.

With regard to the participation of people from Manipur at the UNHRC interactive dialogue for the first time, an interactive session between media persons and the participants was organised today at Classic Hotel under the aegis of the North East Dialogue Forum, United NGOs Mission Manipur, Human Rights Alert and Extra-Judicial Execution Victims Family Association Manipur.

Babloo, Dolendro and Sobita said that the dialogue programme provided a rare opportunity to highlight all the repressive measures unleashed by the Indian military in Manipur at the level of the United Nations.

There is a growing need to highlight all the major issues at UN repeatedly.

Representatives coming different countries were also informed about the protracted imposition of AFSPA and all its painful impacts on the people of Manipur.

As presented at the interactive dialogue, Sobita said that many women have been raped by Indian military personnel and they have been using the criminal act of rape as an instrument of war.

Thangjam Dolendro narrated how his elder sister Manorama was picked up by Indian military personnel in the night of July 11, 2004 before she gang raped and shot dead next morning.

It has been 20 years since Manorama was shot dead in the most bestial manner, but justice still remains elusive.

This brutal murder sparked a public uproar and the mass protest movement lasted for more than two months.

Later, the State Government instituted an enquiry commission.

The National Human Rights Commission in 2012 recommended reparation for the rape and murder of Manorama.

But the same recommendation has been stalled by the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.

Babloo said that the Government of India does not give a clear picture of AFSPA to the UN till date.

After learning about AFSPA and its traumatic impacts from the Manipur delegates, the issue was tabled and discussed at the UN Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on July 2 .

Saying that they directly apprised the UN about imposition of AFSPA and oppression of Manipuri people by the Indian military, Babloo maintained that the UN, however, would not be able to adopt any specific resolution against India.

To enable UN adopt a resolution against AFSPA, all the 194 member countries of the UN should be informed AFSPA and its adverse impacts on the people of Manipur.

A video clipping in which Rashida Manju told the UN Human Rights Commission that the Government of India's attitude was something she experienced for the first time was also shown at the press meet.

Manipur This Week Editor A Mobi was also present at the press meet and it culminated with the screening of documentary film 'Claiming Justice' produced by EEVFAM.