Meet discusses state of women and kids under AFSPA
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, March 02 2014 :
The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) in collaboration with Village Women Coordinating Committee (VWCOC), United NGOs Mission-Manipur, Youth, KWDA, Youth Clubs and Meira Paibi organized a consultation on United N ations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act-1958 today at Kachikhul Community Hall, Imphal West.
The resource persons were Pradeep kumar, Convener Manipur Alliance for Child Right MACR, A Mobi, Editor Manipur This Week and Sobita Mangsatabam Secretary Women Action for Development.
Around 200 people participated in the consultation programme.
The Forum said that India is signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.The convention provides a global charter for children's Survival, Development, Protection and Participation Rights.
India has also child rights specific domestic laws concerning child labour, education and juvenile justice etc, it added.
Ironically, these basic rights of the children are undermined if not completely suspended in the North East and Manipur in particular due to the imposition of AFSPA, 1958 and prolonged armed conflict, the Forum stated.
According to the North East Dialogue Forum, under the armed conflict situation, children experience social disruption, inaccessibility to health and education services, impoverishment, violations of civil and political rights, threats to their physical integrity, transformation in their roles and responsibilities, increase vulnerability and dysfunctional behaviour etc.
In a shocking revelation, 1528 people including 1399 males, 31 females and 98 children were killed in Manipur from 1979 to May 2012 in fake encounters.
Fundamental rights such as the right to life, the right to a fair trial, the right to remedy and reparation, the right against torture, the right against arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, freedom of movement and freedom of association and to peacefully assemble and protest, as well as a series of economic, social and cultural rights have been systematically violated in the areas where AFSPA is in operation.
This law has, therefore, come under severe criticism both domestically and internationally, with many voices calling for its repeal.
Amnesty International in 1997 defined AFSPA, 1958 as "Undeclared Emergency with undefined reasons for unlimited period of time." Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee (2005) report stated that "the Act, for whatever reason, has become a symbol of oppression, an object of hate and an instrument of discrimination and high handedness." And therefore, the committee recommended that "The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, should be repealed" .
"We also may recall the genocide of Heirangoithong Massacre (1984), Tera Bazar Massacre (1993), RMC Massacre (1995), Malom Massacre (2000), Oinam Leikai Massacre (1980), Ukhrul Massacres (1995), Bashikhong Massacre (1995), Churachandpur Massacres (1999), Nungleiban Massacre (1997), Tabokpikhong Massacre (1997), and the Tonsen Lamkhai Massacres (1999), etc.
Other major military operations which are still fresh in public memory for rampant human rights violations are Operation Blue Bird (1987), Operation Sunny Vale (1993), Operation Loktak (1999), Operation Stinger (2005), Operation Tornado (2005),Operation Dragnet (2006), Operation Khengjoi or Somtal-I (2006), Operation Somtal-II (2007), and Operation Summer Storm (2009), etc.," the North East Dialogue Forum added.
It then said the cause for persistency in crimes against women and children is due to AFSPA, 1958 with impunity to kill or arrest anybody.
The Act empowers the Central security forces to kill and arrest with immunity from trial.
The perpetrators of crimes under AFSPA enjoy the legal immunity from persecution.
"Therefore, cases of domestic violence, rape, torture and different forms of crimes against women and children are increasingly being committed in the society in Manipur.
During last five decades, some of the most severe crimes committed against children in the State" .
All the cases were registered in these cases under the India Panel Court (IPC).
But unfortunately the families of the victim nerver got justice and dumped the case in the Court or police file.
And the rate of conviction and charge sheeting against the perpetrators of crimes against children in the State is zero due to lack of insincerity and proper investigation from the part of law enforcing agencies.
The available mechanisms for the safety of women in Manipur are failing.
This is also violating the India constitution and IJNCRC by the central and state government.
Thus, crimes are easily replicated in the society," the Forum said.
"Therefore, we are here today to discuss and reason together the impact of armed conflict and AFSPA on the lives of women and children in Manipur so that we can come together for the best solution to the problems," the Forum stated.
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