International Human Rights Day 2012 observed at New Delhi

New Delhi: 10th December 2012

Office of the
Manipur Student's Association Delhi
New Delhi


Ref: 20121210 PR/ IHRD

The Manipur Students' Association Delhi today, i.e., 10th December 2012, had solemnly observed the International Human Rights Day 2012 under the theme ARISE, AWAKE, Fight for Justice at the Arts Faculty, University of Delhi. The objective of the observance was to discuss human rights to ensure dignity and peace in the larger framework of politics, economy and society.

The program attended by about 30 participants was conducted by Ammon Rohen. It began with an opening song by Okelo Yaikhom and was followed by welcome address by Herojit Leishembam, keynote address by Sapam Baniprakash, release of the booklet entitled Manipur na Maromdom Leppagi Hak (Naorem Sanajaoba, Ed., Imphal East Publication, 1996), interactive session moderated by Malem Ningthouja, and vote of thanks by Elangbam Samananda.

Okelo's song entitled 'Eche' (trans. Sister), dedicated to hunger striker Irom Sharmila expressed lamentation over Sharmila's more than 12 years jailed life for the cause of defending rights without any positive response by the Indian state. The song predicted a teleological spread of the human rights issue to wider scale and the final victory of justice. His second song entitled 'India' described a blood redden India caused by corporate greed and communal genocide under the neo-liberal assaults.

The interactive session that began with circulation of documents was marked by storming discussion on wide ranging issues such as the historical background of the United Nations, the imperialist stake in it and capitalist reformism inherent in its functioning, the meaning and implications of the International Declaration of Human Rights 1948 in the colonial and semi-colonial situations, paradox of Indian State's commitment to human rights and neo-liberal interest; the exigency of defending democratic rights, and the path of progressive ideology and collective struggle to establish development, peace and democracy in Manipur. An understanding was arrived at to continue with the interactive sessions periodically to spread awareness and actions.

Sd/-

Manipur Students' Association Delhi
10th December 2012 Apunbana Yaipharae
(Unity is Victory)

Arise, Awake and Fight for Justice…
International Human Rights Day 2012

Dear Friends,

The world that we live in is not free from subjugation, exploitation and oppression. The responses are alarming! This year alone we have witnessed millions of people on the streets all across the world; some demanding civil and political rights and others demanding economic, social and cultural rights. The targets were against worsening economic crisis, austerity policy, suppression of rights, and imperialist occupation in the Middle-east, Latin America, Asia, etc. Progressive assertions are gaining momentum in China, Philippines, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri-Lanka, Nepal, etc. In the Indian sub-continent not a single day is passed without some forms of resistances and demands to defend democratic rights.

In the context of Manipur (Northeast India), there is peasants’ demand for agricultural land, unemployed youths demanding jobs; ad-hoc employees demanding regularization of job; government employees demanding regular monthly salary; private sector employees demanding pay high and decrease workload; peoples demanding improvement of roads, regular electric supply, other facilities; women street vendors demanding permanent allotment of plots; children yearning for free education and against child labour; minority communities demanding recognition of identity and resource control; homosexuals demanding against social discrimination; women demanding empowerment, protesting sexual harassment and domestic violence; demand for compensation against forced displacement and human rights violation; demand to control corruption and so on.

However, the demands are not been fulfilled. The responses of the Indian State on these important issues had been brutal and militant. For several decades democratic voices had been suppressed under suppressive legislations such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, National Security Act (1980) and Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act (1911). Deceptive jargons such as ‘national security’, ‘law & order problem’, ‘war on terror’ and ‘development’ had been widely articulated to cover up suppression and exploitation. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Supreme Court had recently asked “are we in a state of war” in Manipur.

The reality is that a war has been carried out by a collusion of military and paramilitary forces, police and State sponsored militant organizations. Justice is denied to several victims and their families. Hundreds of activists are languishing in jails in the most inhuman manner and do not enjoy the legal status of political prisoners. Those who have raised protest to the destruction of agricultural land, environment, fossil fuels, and forced displacement to construct airport, dams, office building, and military camps to serve the interest of the corporates are brutally targeted. The Indian State’s commitment to the Indian Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, constitutional fundamental rights, and the International Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Geneva Conventions 1949, International Covenant on Civil and Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966, etc remains unfulfilled.

Against this backdrop, the rights to life, economic livelihood, and justice are our priority concern. The situation demands a struggle towards a democratic society free from any form of suppression and exploitation. We believe that this struggle for justice and democracy has to be carried out collectively cutting across community and regional boundaries.

Down with War on People
Long live Democracy

Pamphlet circulated on 10 December 2012 by MSAD


MSAD keynote address
On the occasion of the
International Human Right Day
10th December 2012

First of all, I will like to knowledge and express my gratitude to all MSAD executives, advisors, volunteers who have attended the gathering today, i.e., 10 December 2012, to observe human rights day held at the Arts Faculty, University of Delhi.

This event is an important occasion for all of us to come together and share experiences on the human rights front. This is an occasion to reiterate our positive goals to defend rights. We believe that positive goals had to be collectively built in order to overcome the challenges that Manipur continue to face against militarization, particularly the Armed Forces Special Powers Act that violates human rights.

I strongly believe that the Indian State has being adopting a militant policy towards the people of Northeast and Kashmir on the nationality question. On the other hand it is also targeting civil societies, tribal communities and minorities in order to continue with subjugation, exploitation and oppression. The fake that it had perpetrated thousands of fake encounters in Manipur has been more or less exposed by the recent Supreme Court statements. It has become more and more exposed to the fact that the State is ever ready to deploy the military to control territory and market, corporatize resource, exploit labour and retention of an exploitative capitalist system. Therefore, many have been struggling to defend the basic rights to life and liberty.

Many may forget or deliberately ignore the systematic killings in Manipur in the name of security and peace. Many might have never enquire to trace out how many people had been murdered, tortured, imprisoned or falsely accused and by whom under a policy that exhibits the semblance of institutionalized racism under the apartheid regime. But the victim families, relatives, dear ones and comrade, who do not have the option to ignore the evidences, continue to be haunted by the memory of the crime against humanity. For them Manipur is a battleground where battles had to fought with heart and soul to recover human dignity and for justice, truth and right.

The time has now come for the Indian State to openly admit that Manipur is not simply a geographical entity, but a community of people who love to play role in promoting development, peace and democracy. That is why we have been observing International human right day to raise our concern towards defending the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. The objectives of our function today is to discuss the human rights issue, the need for defending rights, and the means ahead of us to claim for the rights to ensure dignity and peace. It is also our goal to locate the human rights issue in the larger framework of politics, economy and society. We believe that many would share their experience, express their views and contribute in coming up with practical suggestions to recognize, protect and promote human right.

Thank you.

Sd/-
Sapam Baniprakash
Publicity Secretary
MSAD