Thangjam Manorama's brother address the UN Human Rights Council at Geneva

June 13th, 2014 :

Thangjam Manorama's brother address the UN Human Rights Council on 13 June 2014 :: Pix - webtv.un.org

Thangjam Dolendro Meetei, brother of late Thangjam Manoram address the UN Human Rights Council in connection to his sister case on June 13 2014 during the interactive dialogue while discussing the Special Rappoetuer on Extra Judicial Execution.

Please find the video link at http://webtv.un.org/
The speech starts at time '41.10'

26TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE
WITH
THE SPECIAL RAPPORTUER ON EXTRA JUDICIAL SUMMARY AND ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS

Agenda Item no 3

Statement by Thangjam Dolendro Meetei on behalf of World BaruaOrganisation

Thank you Mr. President!

The World Barua Organization thanks the Special Rapportuer on Extra Judicial Summary and Arbitrary Execution for his recommendation to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to the Government of India. As mentioned in her report, AFSPA prevents the prosecution of criminal acts committed by the personnel of the armed forces. This includes rapes and murders.

On the night of 10 July 2004 a dozen Assam Rifle personnel broke into my house, my sister Thangjam Manorama was accused of being an insurgent. She was dragged out of our house, interrogated and torturedfor over three hours. No woman police was present while arresting my sister, as required by the law. The next morning my sister’sbullet ridden body was found on the road-side about three kilometers away from our house. There were semen stains on her dress.

After my sister’s death, Manipur broke out into a wide spread protest for the next two months.

The Manipur government responded by instituting a Commission of Inquiry. But military authorities challenged the competence of the Commission and have successfully suppressed the Commission’s findings. My family still has not seen the report.

The recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission, which came only in 2012, to pay some reparations for my sister’s rape and murder is still blocked by the Defense Ministry.

I simply cannot understand why, for ten long yearsAFSPA has been used to protect the very criminals who had raped and murderedmy sister.

The World Barua Oraganization therefore appeals to this Council to join the Special Rapportuer in his call repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Thank you Mr. President.