Need for CSOs to unite underlined
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 30 2023: Retired Session Judge Aribam Noutuneshwari has categorically stated that all the civil society organisations (CSOs) need to unite first and work under a common leadership to add vigour to the present people's movement to safeguard Manipur.

She made the remark during a one -day people's convention organised by Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) Manipur on "Present scenario in Manipur" at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen at Palace Compound, today.

At least two resolutions were taken during the convention which was chaired by FOCS president Th Manihar.

The resolutions said that a particular Committee had been formed to guide the people amid the conflict in Manipur and the gatherings agreed to give a name to the Committee in the first leaders' meeting.

Need for CSOs to unite underlined

The convention also agreed to take out a women exclusive rally on August 13 and go upto Kangpokpi and Churachandpur as wanted by district level organisations and people in sensitive zones.

At the convention, Noutuneshwari said that the conflict in Manipur couldn't be solved by gun culture and so negotiation should be given the topmost priority to bring settlement.

They shouldn't fight for leadership as leaders are identified by their deeds, she said referring to CSOs.

Saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been maintaining a studied silence on the Manipur violence and spoke only about the nude parade of May 4, she claimed that the Government is seemingly ignoring everything that happened on May 3 .

She nonetheless said that she feels sorry for the two victims who were paraded naked by a mob.

Asking on what ground did Chief Minister N Biren Singh propose rewarding capital punishment to whoever found guilty in the naked parade case even before the completion of the investigation and submission of a chargesheet to the Court concerned, Noutuneshwari said that she strongly object the hasty announcement on a hypersensitive issue by the Chief Minister.

Claiming that the two women weren't raped but provided clothes after they were stripped naked, she contended that there is no provision to give capital punishment in the criminal procedures of IPC if the case is not related with rape, gangrape or murder.

If the Prime Minister is concerned about the safety of women then why didn't he utter a single word about the elderly woman who was burnt alive at Sugnu.The woman was a wife of a freedom fighter, she added.

About two teenagers (one male and one female) who have gone missing since July 6, Noutuneshwari asked why is the State Government not taking up any action to trace them or recover their bodies if they have been killed.

Why is Governor Anusuiya Uikey not meeting the parents of the two missing teenagers and consoling them till date, she further asked.

The Governor has given a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh each to the victims of the nude parade who are still alive but she hasn't even consoled the parents of the two missing teenagers who are likely dead, she rued.

The violence in Manipur could have been stopped in the initial stage had the Central Government intervened on time, Noutuneshwari added.

Former HoD of History, Manipur University Dr N Joykumar asked whether the elected representatives and people in power are going to secure only their position and chair even if all its frames are broken.

Saying that the Kukis demanding separate administration is an affront to National security and territory, he cautioned that the future generations of Manipur will feel disgusted on seeing them (the elected representatives) if they don't work to protect the State's integrity now.

Demanding separate administration is only the beginning as the ultimate demand of Kukis is to establish a separate State for them, he claimed.

He further said that all CSOs who want to safeguard the State's integrity should work under a common platform and interest.

"Meiteis are not born to face defeat and so we will face the ongoing crisis boldly," he added.

Associate Professor of DM University Dr Arambam Noni, former HOD of Economics MU Dr Ch Priyoranjan, retired Lt Col T Hemo, HOD of Law, MU Dr Yumnam Premananda also spoke at the event as resource persons.