Report on torture, extra-judicial executions, enforced disappearances to be released today
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 17, 2011: The must awaited report of the Independent People's Tribunal (IPT) on torture, extra-judicial executions and enforced disappearances will be released tomorrow (January 18), at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, a statement of the Human Rights Law Network informed.

HRLN organized a three day IPT, on December 11, 12 and 13, 2009, at Retreat House, Mantripukhri in collaboration with Extra-Judicial Executed Victims' Families Association (EEVFAM), Kanglei Young Women's Socio Cultural Organisation (KYWSCO), Human Rights Alert (HRA), Eastern Rural Development Centre (ERDC), NGO Forum, Manipur and Human Rights Initiative (HRI).

When the tribunal was in session, the statement recalled, victims of AFSPA recounted their tales of torture, suffering and inhuman treatment by security forces.

In fact, it was a platform for victims and the civil society to narrate their experiences and to identify the underlying causes of human rights abuses and state's response, as well as for exploring steps to eliminate its practice in Manipur.

During the three day hearing the victims deposed in front of a Jury comprising retired Judges of High Courts and other eminent persons.

The panel members included Justice KK Usha (retired Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court), Justice DK Basu (former Judge, Calcutta High Court), Justice Malay Sengupta (former acting Chief Justice, Sikkim High Court), Justice Th Sudhir (retired District and Session Court, Manipur East, Justice C Upendra Singh (retired District and Sessions Judge, Manipur), late Justice Lisham Rabindra Singh (retired Judge, Family Court, Manipur) and Yambem Laba (former member, Manipur Human Rights Commission).

The tribunal presided over by Justice KK Usha, heard testimonies given by the victim's family members over three days.

They expressed their concern on the complete failure of the administration to protect the most basic human rights of its citizens and the total collapse of legal system in term of security, protection and enforcement of the right of the people of the state of Manipur.

The jury recorded about 42 cases violation including 40 cases of encounter and two incidents of torture.

Out of the 42, as many as 30 family members of the victims deposed before the jury while 12 testimonies were presented in writing by the family members without deposition.

The report to be released is the detailed compilation of the testimonies that victim's relatives narrated in front of the jury, along with the details of each victims, the incident and the follow up of the matter.

It will also include the view of the relevance and implication of its committee report on AFPSA from the point of view of the relevance and implication of its recommendation.

The report also includes a profile of Irom Sharmila Chanu, that indomitable figure with solely represent the saga of a people brutality cornered by the �mainstream� society, the HRLN says in the statement.

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