15th Meira Paibi day observed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 28 2013: Atrocities committed by security forces against the people of Manipur came to the fore again as speakers highlighted genesis of Meira Paibi Day observance, the 15th edition of which was held today at Tharo Devi ground in Khurai Salanthong with participants offering floral tributes and recounting continuous and unrelenting campaigns by the Manipuri womenfolk to protect human rights.

While public meetings during day time marked the observance, at night meira (torch) rallies were taken out at various places of Imphal east, Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts as well as Moreh and Jiribam sub-divisions.

After floral tributes were paid to the statues of Meira Paibis at the observance site in Salanthong, with Prof (Retd) Ksh Bimola of Manipur University (Political Science) leading the gathering, All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association president Y Kunjeshwori Devi delivered the key-note address.

Recounting relevance of the observance to a particular incident that occurred on the morning of April 26, 1980 at Langjing area, Kunjeshwori said consequent to attack and gunning down of two CRPF men, many innocent local people including pregnant women were tortured and some even massacred by the security personnel in retaliatory action to the UG attack.

Statues of Meira Paibis at Khurai

In addition to four persons, including a woman, slain in the counter-assault, another woman vendor fell prey to a fatal bullet wound fired from the direction of the CRPF camp the next morning, she said further highlighting that along with various movements, a mass protest rally was held on May 28, 1980 at various places.

As part of the police crackdown against the protestors, who raised slogans against AFSPA and other atrocities committed by the security forces, police hauled up the protestors in vehicles and abandoned them at distant and opposite locations.

In one such mass transportation of protestors a young pregnant woman fell and died at Salanthong area, Kunjeshwori maintained to highlight significance of observing the Day at Tharo Devi (Lampak) ground.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Ksh Bimola noted with pride that inspite of impediments and domestic responsibilities not only are the elderly Manipuri womenfolk taking active part in important issues but young and energetic women of the State have been able to excel in diverse fields most notably in sports.

Welcoming younger women joining the meira paibi movement, she reminded that more concerted efforts are needed to effectively tackle issues related to abuse, rape and killing of Manipuri women as well as check child trafficking.

Prof Bimola also cited rampant corruption in almost every spheres of life for ills afflicting Manipuri society.

In his brief address, Irabot Foundation Manipur president Thounaojam Iboyaima listed existence of selfish politicians and drug traffickers as the main stumbling block choking progress of Manipur.

Representatives of different women and civil society organisations also addressed the gathering with most citing misuse of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act enforced all over Manipur as the chief factor for the people enduring continuous hardships.

The number and frequency of murders, rapes and cases of involuntary disappearance would have been much higher had there been no meira paibi movement, they opined and lamented that inspite of womenfolk of Manipur fighting against all kinds of repressive measures the change so cherished by the people still remains a far cry.