Meet upholds rights of human rights defenders
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 19 2013 : Along with upholding the rights of human rights defenders working in a conflict situation State like Manipur, a Convention on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders of Manipur organised jointly by various social organisations at Manipur Press Club here has adopted numerous resolutions including an end to all forms of human rights violations in the State.

Organised jointly by Committee on the Protection of Natural Resource in Manipur, North East Dialogue Forum, All Tribal Students Union Manipur, All Zeliangrong Students' Union, Citizens Concern for Dams and Development, Human Rights Initiative, Naga Women's Union, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur and Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organization, the Convention deliberated at length on the present human rights scenario in Manipur.

Chandam Brajachand, Member Secretary of Manipur Legal Services Centre and MJS, Grade I and Dr RK Ranjan, Chairperson, Citizens Concern for Dams and Development graced inaugural function of the Convention as Chief Guest and President respectively.

Yambem Laba, former member of Manipur Human Rights Commission and Ms.Aram Pamei, Ex President, Naga Women Union were also present as Guest of Honours.

Rakesh Meihoubam, Director of Human Rights Law Network; Dr.Debabrata Roy Laifungbam, President of Elders Council, Centre for Organization Research and Education; Ms.Aram Pamei, Ex- President of Naga Women Union, Jiten Yumnam, Secretary of Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur; Nobokishore, Secretary of North East Dialogue Forum; Majabung Gangmei, Spokesperson of ATSUM; Phulindro Konsam, Chairperson of Committee on Human Rights were among those who spoke as resource persons.

After a serious deliberation, the Convention adopted various resolutions.

The convention recalled the role and importance of human rights defenders in an armed conflict afflicted Manipur to end all forms of human rights violations and to seek justice, and further, in fostering respect of democratic values, of culture of rights and in seeking social, economic, environmental, gender, civil and political justice and their contribution in building sustainable peace.

The participants expressed concern with the persisting and increasing threats, ill treatment and harassment of human rights defenders of Manipur by State actors and others for their human rights activism, for promotion of right to life, right to land and natural resources, for women's and children's rights etc, in the context of increasing economic liberalization and related development aggressions.

Reiterate that targetting human rights defenders are serious human rights violations, under India's national laws, Int'l Human Rights standards and International Humanitarian Laws.

Further, they expressed concern with the summon of Mr.Jiten Yumnam, a human rights defender on 2 October 2013 by Police commandoes at Commando complex, Minuthong, without any legal order and giving any reason and setting premise for further monitoring of his human rights activism.

The participants also recalled the obligations and directions of National Human Rights Commission of India to uphold the rights, safety and protection of all human rights defenders of Manipur and across India.

Further, recall the 1996 DK Basu Judgement against arbitrary summon, illegal arrest and torture of innocent people.

They also recalled the recommendations of Mr.Margaret Saggakya, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, in her report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council following her visit to India in January 2011 to protect the human rights of all human rights defenders in Manipur and across India.

The convention then expressed concern with the wide misuse of emergency legislations in armed conflict afflicted Manipur, such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, National Security Act, 1980 which are used to target Human Rights Defenders to rights violations.They also expressed solidarity with the struggle of human rights defender, Ms.Irom Sharmila, who's been on fast for the last 13 years for the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 .

The convention expressed concern with the non functioning of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, due to non appointment of its members, which hinders in seeking protection and justice for human rights defenders .

The convention recalled the UN Declaration on the rights of Human Rights Defenders 1998 and express our concern with the absence of specific policy to protect the human rights of all human rights defenders.

The convention then adopted resolution that the Government of Manipur and the Government of India should recognize the importance and legitimacy of the works of human rights defenders i.e anyone who "individually and in association with others, �..

promotes and �..

strives for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at all levels (Article 1 of UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, 1998).It also resolved that the state and the central governments should ensure the protection of all human rights defenders of Manipur and allow them to continue heir legitimate human rights work without fear of harassment, torture and deprivation of their right to life.

The convention further resolved that the state and the central governments should stop targetting all human rights defenders of Manipur to ill treatment, harassment and degrading treatment, and torture including to Mr.Jiten Yumnam, a distinguished human rights defender of Manipur, Mandir Laishram etc and to ensure their safety and protection.

Repeal all emergency laws, which impacts on the security of innocent people and human rights defenders of Manipur, especially, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 and the National Security Act, 1980 .

The convention then said the government should drop all charges against Internationally renowned human rights defender, Ms.Irom Sharmila, who is on hunger strike demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.The convention also said the government should ensure the full functioning of the Manipur Human Rights Commission, Manipur Information Commission and all ombudsman of welfare schemes, with due appointment of competent and committed members through a transparent process.

The convention further said the government should ensure right to information, free exchange of human rights information, freedom of expression for all human rights defenders of Manipur.

It also said the government should fully implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Ms.Margaret Saggakya in February 2011 during her visit to country visit to India.

"The government of India and the state government should establish a policy for the protection of human rights defenders of Manipur with their due consultation in accordance with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, 1998 and also formulate policies to end all practice of torture, ill treatment, intimidation, reprisal, harassment, degrading treatment, clamping false criminal charges of all human rights defenders and other members of the community in accordance with the UN Convention against Torture," the convention demanded.

It then resolved to apprise all concerned officials of the Government of Manipur and Government of India to protect the human rights of all human rights defenders of Manipur.

The convention further resolved to apprise the National Human Rights Commission of India, visiting and holding sessions in Manipur from 23rd till 25th October 2013 of the difficulties faced by the human rights defenders of Manipur.

Urge the NHRC to allocate adequate time to discuss the matter with human rights defenders during its maiden visit to Manipur.

And further urge the focal point on Human Rights Defenders in National Human Rights Commission to accord special attention to the situation of human rights defenders of Manipur.

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