Geneva panel notes Manipur crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 30 2023:
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM ASIA) organised a panel discussion on 'Reclaiming Civic Space in Asia' on the sidelines of the ongoing 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 27 .
Human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam was invited to speak on the situation in India with reference to the present crisis in Manipur.
Babloo presented the Manipur situation at three levels: conflicts among the ethnic communities of Ma -nipur, rising right wing politics in India where the organically evolved civil society is being subdued and the geo-politics of the region including the civil war in Myanmar and the eth-no-nationalist mobilization of Chin Kuki Mizo as well as the clandestine narcotic economy.
Human rights activists from FORUM-ASIA, Thailand and Myanmar also spoke in the panel discussion wherein UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Association and of Assembly also presented a gist of report to be presented in the HRC.
Over and above the representatives of almost all the organisations, the event was attended by about 60 persons including government representatives from China, Mexico, Germany, Switzerland, UK, Malaysia, Australia, France and Ireland.
Three representatives of European Manipuri Association (EMA) attended the penal discussion and participated in the question and answer session towards the end.