PREPAK welcomes UN envoy
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 24 2013:
Wel-coming decision of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women Rasida Manjoo to visit Manipur from April 28 the proscribed People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) has expressed that follow-up action by the UN on basis of the envoy's report would not only be a turning point for the oppressed Manipuri women folk but a landmark event for the human race.
A PREPAK statement issued by its Publicity and Propaganda assistant secretary LeibakNgakpa Luwang contended that compared to Manipuri women held in high esteem and enjoying basic rights during the pre-merger period, prolong existence under the Indian rule changed the entire scenario with gender discrimination becoming a dominant facet.
Even though women are discriminated upon, the Indian system, particularly the hindu logic seems to advocate that the victims (females) should tolerate atrocities by the male folk in addition to the victims falsely implicated in many cases.
Therefore it is no surprise that Indian as well as State security forces do not respect the womenfolk, opined the assistant secretary and referred to the Thomson Reuters Trust Law Women Report 2011 placing India in the fourth position among the Nations where atrocities against the women are most rampant to substantiate the claim.
Apart from ongoing rage against rape of a minor girl, Indian cities are no longer considered safe for female tourists and ladies from the socially weaker section of the society but the Indian society or system seldom punish the perpetrators inspite of such inhuman act meriting punishment in the most stringent manner.
Contrary to 68,000 cases of rape recorded in different States in between 2009 and 2011 only 16,000 rapists were pulled-up/jailed while out of 24,206 rape cases registered in 2011 as per report of National Crime Record bureau, 5724 rapists were made to regret for their misconduct, highlighted the PREPAK statement.
maintaining that such leniency in punishing the culprits not only demonstrates vagueness in the Indian legal system but also amounts to the indian law enforcement agencies indirectly encouraging crime against women, Luwang lamented that despite the UN adopting a number of resolutions to check violence against women, gender discrimination continue to flourish in both India and Manipur.
Alleging that imposition o AFSPA in the North East region and Jammu & Kashmir reaffirmed racial discrimination policy of the Government of India, he expressed that constant remarks by Delhi police officers that indecent attires of girls from the North Eastern States are the chief factor for sexual abuse against the NE girls and stoic silence of Indian leaders on such issues are enough evidence of racial discrimination in mainland india.
Noting that not even five-year old girls are spared by rapists in New Delhi, described as Gang Rape city, even though process is underway for an Anti-Rape Law, Luwang said lower courts not honouring Supreme Court directive that hearing on rape cases should be conducted everyday to ensure completing a particular case within two months the apex court instruction remains vague.
Apart from a rape case consuming almost 10-20 years, there might be many cases of atrocities against women which were not reported to the police as the people have lost faith on the law enforcement agencies, he said while pointing out weeding out gender discrimination and suppressive policy would be the only means to ensure that the womenfolk do not suffer from atrocities.
Calling upon the people to wholeheartedly welcome the visiting UN delegate, PREPAK wished that Rasida Manjoo's two-day visit would mark the beginning of the end of crime against women.