Rally denounces violation of women's rights
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, July 21 2023:
More than 6000 women from across Kangpokpi district participated in a rally cum sit-in-protest organised by Kuki Women Organization for Human Rights (KWOHR) at Kangpokpi town on Friday.
The rally cum sit-in-protest was against the gross human rights violation of Kuki-Zo women and children.
Prior to staging the sit-in-pro-test, the women folks took out a rally from Brig M Thomas Ground to DC Kangpokpi office where leaders of the KWOHR submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister through the DC, Kangpokpi.
After handing over the memorandum, the protestors returned to Brig M Thomas ground and staged the sit-in-protest till 4pm.Addressing the gathering, KWOHR president Hahat Touthang said that after the Nirbhaya rape case, the Supreme Court in 2013 defined rape committed during communal or sectarian violence as 'Aggravated forms of rape' and the culprits shall be awarded capital punishment.
While strongly condemning the recent shocking viral video, KWOHR general secretary Neinou sought immediate intervention of the Centre to end the ongoing violence which has displaced 54,488 people and left 142 dead, the majority being Kuki-Zomi tribal civilians.
She continued that Manipur is in a dire situation with the state government complicit and inept at handling the situation.
She also pointed out that at least six rape cases have been reported in the ongoing violence but victims are either silenced or unwilling to speak up due to fear of social stigma.
Sadly no action whatsoever has been taken up in connection with the complaints filed on June 12 with the National Commission for Women (NCW), she added.
The memorandum to PM contained three main demands, which include constitution of a special investigation team to be monitored by the Supreme Court to bring swift justice to all those involved in the atrocities since May 3, deployment of army personnel in the buffer zones and separate administration for the Kuki-Zo tribes.
The protestors during the sit-in-protest and rally shouted slogans like 'We want justice', 'We want Separate Administration', 'BirenSingh Down Down', 'LeisembaSa-najaoba Down Down', 'Ar ambai Tenggol Down Down', 'Meitei Leepun Down Down', 'Meira Paibi Down Down', 'We Will Win', etc.
Leaders of Kuki Inpi Manipur, CoTU and women organisation also spoke during the protest.