Human Rights in Manipur

Geetanjali Khangembam *

Protest against AFSPA by Working Group of Meira Paibee Movement at Imphal in May 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Human rights are the rights and freedoms that the people are entitled to. They spring from the concept of natural rights. But even after sixty years, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is still a dream than a reality. In Manipur we see individuals being:

1) Tortured or abused
2) Subjecting to unfair trials
3) Restricted in their freedom of expression

This is not the end. Women and children are marginalized in numerous ways. Press is not free. Dissenters are silenced. Violation of human rights plagued Manipur. Human rights exist, recognized at least in principle. But the actual situation is far from the ideals envisioned in the UN declaration.

Human rights abuses in Manipur have been an ongoing issue. In the name of suppressing insurgency in the region, the Indian Armed Forces and the State forces alike are unleashing a reign of terror in the region with immunity granted under Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958.

AFSPA is a controversial legislation which was passed on September 11, 1958 by the President of India. The legislation grants 'special powers' to the Indian Armed forces in regions which the Act refers to as 'disturbed areas'. The Indian Armed forces have abused the power through privileges conferred in the Act by using it as a manipulative tool to conduct 'killings, torture, cruelty, inhuman and degrading treatment and enforced disappearances'.

The continued application of the Act in Manipur has led to numerous local protests, with the most notable being that of Irom Chanu Sharmila, a civil rights activist, who has been nicknamed as the 'Iron Lady of Manipur'. Following the Malom Massacre on 02.11.2000 by the 8th Assam Rifles, Sharmila has been undertaking a hunger strike since 5th November, 2000 till date with much international attention. Sharmila was stirred by the act of gunning down 10 civilians including an 18-year old National Child Bravery Award winner.

In July, 2004, the Nation was rocked by the protest of a group of Manipuri women who marched upto an Assam Rifles based at Imphal (Kangla), stripped themselves naked and raised a scaring banner: 'Indian Army Rape Us'. They were protesting the rape, torture and murder, a fortnight earlier, of Thangjam Manorama (32), who was picked up from her house in the night by the Assam Rifles. Manorama was found dead on 11th July, 2004.

On July 23, 2009, photos available exclusively to Tehelka captured a shootout that happened right in the heart of Imphal. A young man, Chungkham Sanjit (27) was shot dead by a heavily armed detachment from Manipur's Rapid Action Force, popularly known as Manipur Police Commandos (MPC). Contrary to the official version, Sanjit was standing calmly as the MPCs frisked him.

In the same police firing, a pregnant bystander, Rabina Devi was also killed and five others injured. A lawyer in Gauhati High Court's Imphal Branch said that Sanjit was not an insurgent on the run. The court had lifted his periodic appearances. He was a freeman. There were also insignificant inconsistencies in police version of the recovery of weapon. First, they said it was flung away by the fleeing militant. Then they said it was recovered from him.

Fake Encounters: There is countless number of fake encounters in Manipur against which numerous petitions have been filed with the National Human Rights Commission. In 2009, over 450 people were shot dead by security personnel in Manipur, this surpassing Jammu & Kashmir. At an average, Manipur is creating 300 widows every year. One observes that life in Manipur is very cheap. You are alive because you are lucky.

On the other hand, there have been repeated reports of insurgent groups in Manipur kidnapping young children to bolster their ranks with child soldiers. They are then taken and recruited. On April 18, 2012, three children were kidnapped as they were watching a local football match. A top commander of a banned outfit, on the condition of anonymity revealed to Tehelka, the modus operandi: "Minors are an easier lot to train. Initially, the boys cry but they also fall in line quickly, because they are fresh and smart. By the time, they are fully trained; they can serve the party for a long time. We also recruit girls, but they are not given arms."

Violation of Right of Democracy: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 21-Right to Democracy states-
Everyone has the right to access to public service in his country. But in Manipur, this is grossly violated. Merit is overlooked, Money and backing is the top priority. Foul may be fair and fair may be foul. There is no competition, only favouritism rules.

Miscellaneous Violations: Reports of abduction, ransom demand, rape, killings, etc, are very regular in Manipur. But rigorous investigations and befitting punishments are always awaiting. One cannot forget, Lungnila Elizabeth, a little girl of Little Flower School, who was abducted, killed and dumped in a ditch.

Conclusion: To the Japanese soldiers of World War-II, Manipur was a flower on lofty heights (Takane No Hana), meaning very tempting but beyond the reach. An Army matron, EM Somerville describes Imphal as a little paradise on earth. So, let us pray to God for the land and its people to awake 'Where the mind is without fear."