Meet cautions UGs, cops on ICC 'scorn'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 15, 2013: The International Criminal Court (ICC) may one day pull up and adjudicate UG groups as well as security forces accused of killing civilians without conducting any sort of trial, warned Advocate W Basantakumar.

Basantakumar was speaking at a one day consultation programme on international humanitarian laws and AFSPA held at Nungourok today.

No civilians can be killed until she/he is put on trial under some laws but in Manipur a mere suspicion is enough to kill a civilian and this unbridled power is given to security forces by the infamous AFSPA, Basantakumar observed.

Repealing AFSPA from only seven Assembly segments of Imphal Municipal area implies that the Government is suspicious of all the people living outside this selected zone.

Killing a person on mere suspicion is against international humanitarian laws and contravenes the Common Article III of the Geneva Convention.

Warning that all those accused of killing people without putting them on trial may have to stand in the dock of ICC one day regardless of whether they are insurgents or security forces, Basantakumar appealed to both UG groups and security forces to respect the Common Article III of the Geneva Convention and abide by international humanitarian laws.

The consultation programme was jointly organised by the North East Dialogue Forum, All Tribal Women Organisation Chandel and Chandanpokpi Area People's Organisation.

Basantakumar said that AFSPA is being imposed in Manipur for the last 55 years by extending the disturb area status every year without ever reviewing the ground situation.

Manipuri people now seem accustomed to harassment and all the repressive measures unleashed under AFSPA.

Observing that this is a tragedy, Basantakumar called upon all the people to struggle collectively so that the dreaded Act is abolished.

Advocate Shivananda of Human Rights Law Network said that State Police have been following the footsteps of the army even though they do not enjoy any kind of impunity.

Arrest memos should be demanded every time security forces take away a civilian.

In case no arrest memo is given, a missing report should be filed at the nearest police station immediately.

Security forces should not contravene the Indian Constitution and they must always remember that their uniforms, weapons and salaries are given by tax payers' money.

There is no post called Deputy Chief Minister under the Indian Constitution.

What is seen today is just an internal arrangement, Shivananda said.

Journalist Ng Liklaileima Arambam observed that the patriarchal system of Manipuri society has been abetting violence against women.

This patriarchal system when combined with AFSPA only multiplied the sufferings of women.

From 1974 to 2012, 24 women were raped in Manipur and 162 women shot dead.

If the incidence of crime against women should be brought down, the patriarchal system should be made more malleable and accommodative apart from repealing AFSPA, Liklaileima said.

All Tribal Women Organisation Chandel president Lalam Mate called upon all civilians to be always alert and dutiful while continuously exerting for their rights.

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