Report carried in TSE not defamatory : Commission
MHRC dismisses complaint against AMYPCO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 03 2023: The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has dismissed a complaint filed against the All Manipur Youth Protection Committee (AMYPCO) by one Manglenlal Haokip of Sita village, Tengnoupal district for alleged defamation of the Kukis.

In his complaint petition which also asked the members of AMYPC to pay damages to the 'Kukis', Manglenlal Haokip said that Kukis are an indigenous tribal group of Manipur since time immemorial and the Kukis were brave freedom fighters of India with their first war fought against the British from 1917 to 1919, popularly known as the Kuki Rebellion/Kuki Rising/Anglo-Kuki War in defence of their freedom, dignity and ancestral lands.

During the second World War, the Kukis of Manipur joined the Indian National Army under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose to free India from British rule.

Most of the INA pensioners from Manipur being Kukis is the evidence, Manglenlal Haokip claimed.

In spite of the glorious history of their sacrifices in the Indian freedom struggle, they are now discriminated and mistreated in their own lands.

"Certain Meitei/Naga based organizations and individuals of Manipur are blindly branding the Kukis as illegal immigrants from Burma, the most recent being a publication in The Sangai Express, a daily newspaper in Manipur by the AMYPCO on March 15, 2023 in which AMYPCO blindly branded the Kuki tribals of Manipur as illegal immigrants from Burma.

In the past too, Federation of Haomee, Kangleipak Kanba Lup and World Meetei Council and even the Chief Minister of Manipur too have been doing the same," alleged the petitioner.

"This rising anti-Kukism is severely affecting the cordial relationship that used to exist amongst different communities of Manipur.

Their activities amount to incitement of communal hatred and defamation and hurt the sentiments of the Kukis of Manipur to the core, myself rendered depressed," the petition said.

The MHRC listed the petition on March 23 but none appeared on behalf of the petitioner on that date.

The matter was again listed on March 27 for complainant Mr Haokip's appearance before the MHRC to explain how and in what manner the contention made in the complaint petition came within the purview of the Human Rights Commission.

But the complainant even after receipt of notice did not appear before the commission.

The aforesaid order was also communicated to the complainant petitioner but after receipt of the e-mail he did not appear before the commission this time also.

"We have provided him full opportunity but we failed to get him before us.

Moreover, he did not mention his father's name in the complaint petition.

As a result, the registry could not send notice through speed post", according to an order (oral) given by MHRC Chairperson Justice UB Saha and Member KK Singh.

It said that the commission has all respect for the martyrs of 'Kukis' who had participated in the INA's freedom movement led by Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.

The commission asserted that the petitioner failed to make out a prima facie case for violation of human rights, more so he made allegation against the All Manipur Youth Protection Committee Members, as well as Federation of Haomee, Kangleipak Kanba Lup and World Meitei Council relying on a news item published in The Sangai Express.

"We have gone through the news items published in The Sangai Express dated 15th March with caption "AMYPCO questions inclusion of Kukis in ST list", wherein the All Manipur Youth Protection Committee questioned as to how the 'Kukis' were inserted in the Scheduled Tribe list of Manipur State in 1976.Such a statement and/or question itself cannot be a defamatory statement", the commission asserted.

In the democratic country every citizen has the right to express his opinions/views, keeping himself within the limit of Constitutional provision.

But for such an expression, 'Kukis' are not going to be delisted from the Presidential Order of Scheduled Tribe of Manipur, provided those 'Kukis' are Indian Nationals but mere inclusion of Kukis of India as Scheduled Tribe does not give 'Kukis' of foreign National the right to be enlisted as a tribe of Manipur or any other States.

This principle is applicable to not only 'Kukis' but to other tribes also who came or are coming to the Indian State from foreign countries, the commission said.

The same principle is also applicable even in the case of foreign Meetei, the commission said.

"We are also of the opinion that not only 'Kukis' but the people of all other communities who loved the Motherland of India fought for India's Freedom movement", the order reads.

Regarding the allegations made against the Chief Minister of the State the petitioner did not give any details when and where the aforesaid organizations and the Chief Minister made defamatory statements against the entire indigenous Kuki tribal communities.

In the aforesaid news item, there is nothing that the Chief Minister made any statements against the entire Kuki community of India.

It also appears from the various local newspapers that the Government of Manipur is setting up temporary shelter homes for Myanmar Nationals including Kukis who fled their country in the wake of the unrest in Myanmar.

"In view of the above, we are closing the complaint case and accordingly closed", it said.

However, liberty is given to the complainant to approach the MHRC again as the case is disposed of in absence of the complainant, if so advised.

If the complainant thinks that the statements made by AMYPCO is a defamatory one, then he can approach the Magistrate concerned, taking benefit of the Indian Penal Code, it added.

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