NEDF fears safety of civilians during Army operation
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 08 2015 : Two labourers in Mapao village were killed on May 10, 2015 after subjecting to extreme tortures and a child was also brutally tortured by the Kuki National Front (KNF) charging that the two persons belonged to Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) said in a press note on Monday.

In an apparent retaliation to such crimes, one Kuki driver was lynched by agitators who also brutally beat up three Kuki boys on May 13, 2015.They had nothing to do with earlier of the incidents.

On February 17, 2009 Dr Thingnam Kishan (SDO), Aribam Rajen and Yumnam Token were bludgeoned to death by an insurgent group.

The decomposed body of 8- year-old Lungnila Elizabeth was found on November 12, 2003, the forum recalled.

On May 23, 2015, three members of an insurgent group in Manipur and one church secretary of B Gamnom village were killed by Assam Rifles.

Further on June 4, 2015, 18 soldiers of the 6 Dogra Regiment were killed in an ambush at Multok village in Chandel district by the combined team of three insurgent groups.

NEDF which is a representative of the civilian organizations said it extends its solidarity with and sorrow to those who lost their lives and their family members.

"Human lives are very prestigious.

We are all born once on this earth.

We also need to remember that humans are temporary visitors on this earth.

Why should we want someone to go heaven or hell with untimely death? We are surprised to hear that any Indian Army Chief visiting North East States always announces to carry out military operations against militants in the last 50 years," NEDF said.

It mentioned operations such as Operation Blue Bird (1987), Operation Sunny Vale (1993), Operation Loktak1999), Operation Stinger(2005), Operation Tornado(2005), Operation Dragnet(2006) Operation Khengjoi or Somtal-I (2006), Operation Somtal-II (2007), Operation Summer Storm (2009), Operation All Out in Assam (2014), Operation Rhino (1991), Bajrang Operation (1990) and Operation Orchid (1956) .

The people are facing operation after operation by Indian Army.

On the other hand, people are also suffering from ambush after ambush.

Finally, civilians who are not part of the conflict become the victims of such counter strategies and action, it said.

How many women were raped and murdered by the armed state and non- state actors? How many children had lost their lives in the hands of security forces like Azad Khan who was only 12-year-old when he was killed by commandos and Assam Rifles? Whereabouts of Tayub Ali is still unknown.

Many people were killed by the members of the insurgent groups, the forum said.

"Will this operation able to completely finish the armed struggle in Manipur by the Army or paramilitary forces? This kind of actions is in the political context.

So, it should be dealt with political means," it urged.

It observed that the military operation is still going on in the villages of Juthang, Libong, Paraolond, Charlong, Kotal Khunthak in Chandel district.

Based on the earlier experiences, military used the civilian villagers to guide them in operation.

In other words military personnel use civilians as human shields in the counter insurgency operations.

Such policies are nothing less than committing war crimes which are against the International Humanitarian Law.

It also violates the Geneva Convention (IV) .

Secondly, it observed that villagers will not be allowed to go out of their houses or keep them in a concentrated place or room like community hall or church.

This is cultivation time.

Villagers have to go to the field for cultivation mainly on the river bed.

If military do not allow the villagers to go to the field, they may not get food for next year.

Many pregnant women need daily special care and many children will lose their regular classes.

Supply of daily food to the villagers is also the primary responsibility of the Government.

Based on the humanitarian ground, NEDF humbly appeals to all the concerned to consider the recommendation given below: Allow the villagers to go to shop to buy food, medicine, to attend primary health centres for particular period of time like about three or four hours in a day.

Press briefing at least twice in a day about the progress and challenges of the operation.

To establish an independent committee comprising representatives from the NGOs, CSOs, and church/religious institutions to review the activities of the Manipur and Central Governments.

Government of India is requested to invite Independent experts to investigate and determine the kind of weapon and ammunition which were used in the ambush by the militants.

The Centre is also urged to carefully look into the movement of illegal arms and drugs in Manipur where smugglers are playing important roles.

Investigation should be conducted against the Central intelligence personnel who are in charge of the area for their negligence that led to the killing of 18 soldiers and they should be terminated from their jobs.

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