MLA slams Govt for shunning MHRC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 07, 2013:
Likening reluctance of the State Government to revive the Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) as deliberate policy to prolong 'police raj' in Manipur, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Laishom Ibomcha said such anti-people stand clearly testify that the Government lacks commitment to safeguard basic rights of the common citizens.
Speaking as the chief guest at the one-day consultation programme on 'Functioning of Manipur Human Rights Commission' at Classic Hotel today, MLA Ibomcha lamented that MHRC has ceased functioning for over three years with still no sign of its revival.
With the Manipur information Commission also failing to live upto the people's expectation as it is technically defunct the assumption of the common people that the Government of Manipur is not sincere enough to uphold rights of its citizens is being confirmed with each passing day, opined that Keishamthong AC legislator.
Terming the State Government as a spineless institution and questioning rationale of promoting 'police raj' in a democratic country, Ibomcha asserted that MHRC must be revived so that the masses enjoy the constitutional rights of a democratic set-up.
Recounting that official process for establishing MHRC gained momentum in 1995s subsequently leading to its official statute under the then Chief Minister (late) W Nipamacha two years later on June 27, Ibomcha pointed out that he was still the Law Secretary when the MHRC started functioning in December 1998. conveying that MHRC with no building of its own used to function from a block of the Family Court complex, he regretted that inspite of its importance MHRC remains one of the most neglected institutions in the State.
Apart from the MHRC decadency exposing weakness and non-committal attitude of the State Government, absence of governance has been further exposed by the controversial Indo-Myanmar border fencing which on completion would mean Manipur losing substantial geographical area to the international neighbour, the MLA stated.
In his address, former MHRC member Yambem Laba recounted that his involvement in human rights activities since 1979 was marked by various impediments.
Inspite of various obstacles and confronted by adverse elements commitment to uphold basic rights of the common citizens and expose mis-governance continued relentlessly, he said.
Representatives of various rights bodies and NGOs also deliberated on the issue.
today's event organised by Human Rights Law network also marked the release of journal entitled 'Rugged Road to Justice: A social audit of human rights commission in India'.
The journal is a compilation of reports on conflict situation and abuse of human rights by security forces in 10 States, including Manipur.
Compiled after an in-depth session of the independent Peoples' Tribunal, the journal is said to be jointly edited by activists of Human Rights Law network namely Mathew jacob, Harsh Dobhal and Anupam Kishore.
It was jointly released by L Ibomcha, advocate Khaidem Mani and former MHRC members Y Laba and RK Rajendro Singh.
Comment
