Meet calls for civilian protection in conflict
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, February 01 2014 :
A one-day consultation on International Humanitarian Law and Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 in Manipur was organized jointly by North East Dialogue Forum, Chothe Tribe Union, Chothe Sanulim and Chandonpokpi Area People's Organization at Chandonpokpi Chothe Village in Chandel district today.
.WBasanta, Advocate; Sobita Mangsatabam, Secretary, Women Action for Development; Romeo Chothe, Advisor, NEDF and U.Nobokishore, Convener, North East Dialogue Forum attended the consultation as resource persons.
Giving the key note address, Mr.Romeo stated that the civilians in Manipur have undergone enough sufferings on account of the ongoing armed conflict between Indian Military and Armed Opposition Groups.
He opined that it is high time the people start sharing their common experiences of suffering, and civil society bodies as well as religious institutions irrespective of ethnicity to unite and strive for ensuring the safety of the innocent civilians.
Speaking as a resource person, W.Basanta, Advocate pointed out that in any situation of armed conflict, the internal humanitarian law or simply law of armed conflict shall be effective immediately.
The international humanitarian law is being set out in Geneva Conventions, 1949 and additional protocols of 1977.He stated that given the various military operations carried out in the north east with specific code name such as Operation Bluebird, Operation Dragnet, Operation Loktak, Operation Stinger, Operation Tornado, Operation Somtal-I & II, Operation Sunny Vale, Operation Summer Storm, Operation Rhino, Operation Bajrang and Operation All Clear, de facto existence of armed conflict is recognized.
He called upon both the conflicting parties i.e., India and the armed opposition groups to respect and implement the Common article 3 of Geneva Conventions, 1949 and Additional Protocol-II of 1977 .
He also called upon both the conflicting parties to clearly identify between military objectives and non-military objects including civilian populations and combatants and non-combatants even while they are in war or confrontation and not to cause any harm or injury, death, torture, rape and assault to the civilians especially women and children.
.UNobokishore, Convener, North East Dialogue Forum asserted that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act contravenes both Indian and International law standards.
He further stated that, in its application, the AFSPA does lead to arbitrary detention, killing, arrest, torture, rape, assault etc.
as given in the various sections of the Act.
In such kinds of military actions, thousands of women were raped, civilians especially women and children suffered extremely, he said.
These extremities were committed by security forces intentionally.
Such military actions amount to the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crime which should be investigated by constituting international tribunal court, stated Nobokishore.
He also said that these are committed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.Absolute powers are given to Indian Union Military; Army and Para-military forces under this act.
He further said that Indian soldiers committing even serious human rights violations cannot be punished according to the law of the country without prior sanctioned by the central government.
As such, democracy in Manipur is unofficially suspended.
Sobita Mangsatabam said that in any armed conflict situation it is women and children who suffer the most.
In the protracted armed conflict in Manipur and the north east, numerous women and girls have been killed, raped, assaulted and disappeared.
On the other hand, many displaced women and girls became dependence on drugs and engaging in sex trade leading to HIV infection, she said.
She also said that rape is being use as an instrument of war by India and there are numerous rape cases involving Indian security forces in the north eastern states of India.
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