Rights denied to people of Manipur: Phulindro
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 06 2024: When people across the globe are living with dignity and enjoying life with fullest exercise of fundamental rights and human rights, the people of Manipur continue to live under colonialism, imperialism and feudalism, stated Committee on Human Rights (CoHR), Manipur chairman Phulindro Konsam.

Speaking at a one-day discourse on 'Internationally guaranteed rights of the peoples' organised by COHR, at the auditorium of Manipur University Friday ahead of the International Human Rights Day observance on December 10, Phulindro expressed strong remorse that compared to people across the world guaranteed their fundamental rights, here in Manipur the people continue to be subjected to all forms of cruelties as if living in the renaissance era of Europe marked by feudalism, colonialism and imperialism.

As such, the people of Manipur have no meaning to rejoice when the International Human Rights Day approaches, he said adding that killings and torture of innocent civilians continue unabated in Manipur.

According to Phulindro Konsam, the people of Manipur are yet to taste the joy of freedom as India annexed the sovereign land in 1949 shortly after getting independence from the British in 1947 .

After this, killings and torture of innocent civilians continue unabated till date after the army was given sweeping powers to suppress people with the imposition of Armed Forces' Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) .

One recent phenomenon in the ongoing crisis in Manipur has been attacks on children and women using sophisticated weapons similar to genocide.

Such acts deepen suspicion about India waging a proxy war in Manipur with imposition of AFSPA under the pretext of maintaining law and order situation and militarisation process by deploying more than one lakh central armed forces justifying the people's sense of alienation, he maintained.

In view of the evolving uneasy situation, the discourse was organised with the main objective of restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur by ensuring the people the right to self-determination using international mechanism, Phulindro said, adding that the discourse will reaffirm the decision adopted by COHR and the people of Manipur in the past.

In the technical session of the discourse moderated by Manipur Human Rights Commission former acting chairperson Khaidem Mani, MU law department head Dr Yumnam Premananda presented a talk on 'Right to self-determination & its relevancy in Manipur' as a resource person.

Assistant professor Dr Sapam Dilipkumar of the same department also delivered a lecture on 'Draconian nature of AFSPA 1958 & its impact in Manipur' while social scientist Dr Dhanabir Laishram elaborated on 'People's movement against AFSPA 1958 & human rights violation in Manipur' .

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