CIRCA bats for pre-merger status
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 10 2017:
Coalition for Indigenes Rights Campaign (CIRCA) organised a discussion on Human Rights, Armed Conflict and Pre-merger political status of Manipur, at State Guest House, Sanjenthong, today .
Speaking at the function, CIRCA convenor Somorendro Thokchom said that the discussion has been organised in connection with International Human Rights Day and aims to show the contradiction between the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the current situation in Manipur .
The discussion is aimed at shedding light on whether United Nations is aware of the human rights violation rampant in the North Eastern States of India and whether the citizens of the NE region, particularly Manipur, are enjoying the necessary Universal Rights, he added .
He said that CIRCA has been batting for the State to return to its pre-merger political status because CIRCA believes that it will solve all the current problem of the State like Scheduled Tribe demand, ILP Demand and the demand for repealing of AFSPA etc.
Somorendro claimed that all these problems are the result of the hardships and torture faced by the people as a result of the colonial system put forward by India after Manipur merged with it and added that all the problems will be solved if Manipur returns to its pre-merger political status .
He stressed on the importance of the discussion adding that CIRCA believes the insurgency problem also reared its head due to gross human right violations and blatant disregard for democracy .
Research Associate, Centre for South East Asia Study, MU, Dr Kangujam Sanatomba, former Member, Manipur State Human Rights Commission, Yambem Laba, Chief Editor, Impact TV, Yumnam Rupachandra and Associate Professor, JNU, New Delhi, Bimol Akoijam also took part in the discussion as resource persons.