CSCHR submits report to UN
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, May 22 2012: "The government of India continues to insist on a military response to the political struggle in Manipur, by enacting emergency legislations, through which massive deployment of armed forces and military actions are undertaken under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA)" .

This was stated in a joint stakeholders' report submitted by the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights (CSCHR) in Manipur to the UN Office High Commissioner for Human Rights as supplementary information for the consideration of the Human Rights Council during its examination of India at the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review in May 24, 2012 .

The CSCHR is a coalition of eighteen civil society organizations with individual human rights defenders in Manipur formed in 2010 to ensure better coordination and collective work amongst civil society organizations and other actors seeking to engage with the human rights framework, including the UN system for the promotion and protection of human rights in Manipur.

Five issues were put up as information for consideration of the Human Rights Council during its examination of India at the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, with suggestions, questions and recommendations to the Permanent Missions to the United Nations at Geneva.

The issues include International Human Rights Treaties and the AFSPA 1958 with special reference to the right to self-determination and right to life; extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, arbitrary detention, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and enforced disappearances; development and indigenous peoples in Manipur; extractive industry, oil exploration in Manipur and related violations; and the rights of the indigenous child.

Speaking at the release function of the Advocacy Paper which was prepared by CSCHR with the cooperation of Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, Dr.Laifungbam Debabrata Roy, convenor, CSCHR said that Manipur has been facing and protesting against human rights violations for 54 years since 1958 when the draconian AFSPA was imposed in the state.

He said that two representatives of CSCHR, Baboolu Loitongbam and Jiten Yumnam are already in Geneva to lobby the United Nations members to question the Indian government representatives, which will be reportedly led by the Union Home Minister, on the action taken up after the first Universal Periodic Review in 2008 on the human rights issue with special reference to the AFSPA.

He stated that Irom Sharmila has been on a fast unto death for more than eleven years since November 2, 2000 demanding that the AFSPA be repealed from Manipur.

Roy asserted that AFSPA is an Act imposed by the British colonial rulers on India to repress the Indian freedom struggle, and which is now being imposed by the Indian government in Manipur after India has regained her freedom.

Laifungbam Roy also condemned the government of Manipur for not allowing Sharmila to meet her family and friends, which is not denied even to criminals.

Comment