Conflict situation: Women the worst affected
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 01: With none of the confronting parties adhering to the Common Article III of the International Humanitarian Law, women in Manipur are suffering the most because of the armed conflict situation prevailing in the State.

They are being subjected to all kinds of inhuman treatment and harassment like rape, murder, severe physical torture and mental harassment both by security forces and some underground cadres.

This is against the specific protocol of the International Humanitarian Law where many articles clearly lay down all the mandatory dos and don'ts which should be adhered to by both the State forces and insurgents.

However, despite being the largest democracy, the Government is yet to ratify the Additional Protocol II 1977, Non-International Armed Conflicts.

A woman weeps over the death of one of her beloved-File photo

As India is not accountable to the Additional Protocol II 1977, for it is not yet a signatory, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has no authority to question the Government of India or the insurgents when their security personnel or armed cadres commit crimes against women.

In other words, the ICRC has no power to interfere in the 'internal conflicts' of India.

On the other hand, contending that there is no armed conflict situation in the country, the Government of India is refusing to ratify the Additional Protocol II 1977.It is claiming that incidents of violence taking place in the country are just internal law and order problems.

Article 6 of the Protocol to Non-International Armed Conflicts says that "the death penalty shall not be carried out on pregnant women or mothers of young children".

According to the Common Article III of the International Humanitarian Law to which India is also a signatory, all civilians of a conflict zone should be protected by both the confronting parties without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, race or religion.

Both the security forces and insurgents should safeguard the dignity of civilians and should honour the life and modesty of women, it said.

Because of the protracted armed conflict situation in Manipur, the lives and honour of many women have been trampled upon.

Their essence of being women is being threatened perpetually.

Of the many women victimised by the conflict situation, the cases of Naobi Chanu pulled up by Thoubal Police in February last year, the excesses committed by Assam Rifles personnel at Umathel in September this year, the incident of Kalika Lok and the murder of Tongbram Bimola on October 16 this year may be recounted.

In the aftermath of the killing of 4 commando personnel in an ambush undertaken by the PLA on February 20, last year, Naobi Chanu was pulled up by Thoubal police on the next day on the charge of having close relationships with one of the PLA cadre involved in the ambush.

In the police custody, Naobi Chanu was subjected to extreme physical torture and sexual harassment for about 10 days.

The incident was investigated by Justice Rajkhowa Enquiry Commission.

Even though the Enquiry report was duly submitted to the State Government, the report has not been published till date.

While the legal process has brought nothing, the internal scars and the lost honour of Naobi can never be regained or recuperated.

The victim of commando brutality is still living with the nightmarish experience without any hope of ever getting justice.

On September 30 this year, many women were subjected to a most brutal treatment in the follow-up action of 21 AR after the ambush at Umathel.

The rampaging AR personnel not only assaulted the women in the most severe manner but also forfeited the reproductive right of one Khambi Maring.

Because of the assault, Khambi suffered miscarriage of her fourth child.

At Kalika Lok, one 60 year old helpless woman was not only thrashed blue and black but also subjected her to the most inhuman treatment.

The AR personnel spat at the mouth of Sangkhu and forced her to swallow it, conveyed the local Meira Paibis.

In the Umathel incident, one 23 year old Amujaobi was kicked and caned all over her body repeatedly.

Meira Paibis secretary Ibechoubi conveyed that one Manipuri speaking 21 AR personnel called out, "We will shoot you in your private parts; Come out all the women; We'll rape you".

Tongbram Bimola of Salam Konjil staying at Kwakeithel Laishram Leikai, shot dead by the UNLF on October 16 for being an informer left behind four children aged about just 4 years, 7 years, 11 years and 16 years respectively.

After the death of Bimola, her husband is looking after the children.

When a team of reporters visited the family at Salam Konjil, her children cried, "If our mother was an informer, just tell us the persons arrested by security forces on information provided by our mother".

"Though we are helpless and poor, we can never condone the killing of our mother even if she had committed mistakes.

Don't ever rob a child of its mother for some mistakes in future" pleaded the eldest daughter of Bimola.

Commenting on the summary killings, senior citizen Arambam Lokendro observed, "Insurgents should give more thoughts to revolutionary justice.

If universal human rights should be protected, they should abide by the international humanitarian laws".

Babloo Loitongbam of Human Rights Alert said, "Civilians are the worst affected section of the armed conflict situation in Manipur.

To safeguard the lives and rights of civilians, India should ratify the Additional Protocol II.

The insurgents too should honour international laws".

Prof Ksh Bimola of Manipur University noted, "Women are really hit hard by the conflict situation.

They are being killed on various grounds.

Apart from charging a woman of being an informer, it would be worthwhile to study the reasons prompting them to become informers".