Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 23:
A one-day discussion session on the theme 'State terrorism: Its impact on civil societies and people' was held at GM Hall here today.
Organised by Working Committee of the Apunba Lup, the programme was attended by representatives of civil societies, media persons, lawyers, meira paibis, etc.
Making his observation, advocate Khaidem Mani said the impact of State terrorism is being felt by the people of Manipur since the imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 on September 9, 1980.Since then not only the common people, but the Ministers and the MLAs have also been raising voice of concern over it, he added.
Unfortunately, we have not heard any guilty army officials/personnel ever been subjected to court martial and given fitting punishment in accordance to their crimes.
So there is no justice in a place like Manipur where State terrorism rules the roost, he said, adding that wedges are also being driven among various ethnic groups of people living in Manipur as part of a covert policy of the State terrorism perpetrated here.
Mani further explained that as a consequence of the State terrorism, newspapers published in Manipur cannot pursue investigative journalism to bring out the entire truth of any incident.
Mani stated categorically that to put an end to the State terrorism, AFSPA should be scrapped and the existing armed conflict resolved.
For this, he suggested, political dialogues should be facilitated between the Government and armed insurgent groups and the people should pressurise both the Government and the armed outfits toward this end.
IPSA president Ibotombi Khuman pointed out that arbitrary arrest and detention of people, disappearance after being arrested, fake encounter, custodial killings, etc are manifestation of State terrorism.
In such a situation, enjoyment of right to life is out of the question.
Khuman contended the impact of State terrorism on womenfolk is two-fold.
Apart from sexual harassment, they are also being subjected to various crimes and atrocities of the same nature suffered by their male-folk, he said.
Another resource person Dhanabir Laishram observed that all the Indian children are being given polio drops so that they could become healthy citizen of the country when they grow up.
But in Manipur, the same children when they grow up are being made easy target of the security forces.
'Manipuri people do not want negative peace.
They want positive peace, which can ensure social, political and economic justice', Laishram said.
UPF president Th Mangi noted two type of State terrorism are prevailing in Manipur.
The impact of one can be seen while the other not, he said, adding that incidents of violence and killing which are being witnessed is the type of State terrorism whose impact can be seen.
But the other type whose impact cannot be seen is far more dangerous.
Co-ordinators of the Apunba Lup namely Phulindro Konsam, Y Devdutta, Babloo Laishram and A Langdon were presidium members of the session.