CSCHRM&UN set to approach UN
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 13 2017:
The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHRM&UN) has drafted a lobby document (on specific issues) for submission to the United Nations in order to draw attention of the international community in case the more than two months' old economic blockade on National Highways leading to Manipur is not cleared at the earliest.
Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam said that the lobby document would be submitted to the UN as a part of the joint stakeholders' report 'Broken promises and abdicated obligations' submitted by the CSCHRM&UN on September 22 last year.
The report highlighted the status of human rights in Manipur.
After the report was submitted to the UN, some critical issues emerged in Manipur since November 1 last year.
Imposing indefinite economic blockade is a crime against humanity and this is stated very clearly by many international humanitarian laws.
Moreover, there is a global political commitment known as Responsibility to Protect (R2P) which has been endorsed by the UN.
The Responsibility to Protect lies with the respective Governments.
As such, it is the responsibility of both the Government of India and the State Government to clear the UNC's indefinite blockade and ensure uninterrupted supply of goods to the people of Manipur, Babloo said.
If the Government of India fails to discharge its responsibility , the international community should intervene and help the Government of India clear the blockade.
If the Government of India still fails to clear the blockade and the crime against humanity goes on in the form of the highway blockade, the responsibility to clear the indefinite blockade falls on the international community, Babloo asserted.
The report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council earlier on September 22 last year was also released at the press meet.