Violence Against Women In Manipur

Longjam Tony Angom *

Naked Womenfolk protesting against the brutal killing of Manorama at the gate of 17 Assam Rifles in July 2004 :: Pix - David Mayum

In the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for us to understand is the equality for women demanding a change in the human psyche which is more profound than anything else. The only point on which all women are in the furious movement against the existing law is the saddling of the right to a woman with the obligation to become the tool for men's sexual satisfaction. The highest they could do is to slam their phanek ( wrap around) & mourn at their loudest.

No policy makers have ever thought that feminism for its true nature is the highest form of agitation against injustice that has ever been. Some people say women can't have as much rights as men because Christ wasn't a woman but where did the Christ come from, from heaven? Yes it is true that the son of god came to earth from heaven however he was a son of a god & a woman. If all men are born free then how is it that all women are born as an asset for rape? Touching a woman without her consent doesn't make a man, it makes him a coward.

The women's market of Manipur (khwairamband bazar) where only women are allowed to sit serves a very important role for the secondary bread earner. The NUPI LAL of 1912 & 1939 wherein all the women of Manipur stood against the mighty British power is the one of the historical event that sowed the new seeds of economic & political reforms for a new Manipur in the early 40's. The kind of sacrifice made by Rani Gaidinglu of Manipur who was detained (for supporting Gandhi's non-co-operative movement) the longest in the Indian freedom struggle at the age of 13 by the British is considered the highest contribution so far.

The MEIRA PAIBI (Women torch bearer), a unique social setup is known for its local self-government & also for their legitimate support in bringing peace in Manipur. Therefore, women are in fact given the highest respect by the indigenous societies of Manipur. The event of rape, molestation, sexual harassment or gender based violence is accorded zero tolerance among the people of Manipur.

However, women & girls have been raped, sexually mutilated or even later killed or left to die by the government forces & border guards (non-state actors). They are also been subjected to humiliating strip searches, forced to parade or dance in naked in front of the soldiers or in public & to perform domestic chores while nude. If the army personnel who are meant to be protecting the country's integrity indulges into some of the dirty instances of rape, molestation, sexual harassment, etc then the country is not culturally developed.

The following statistical report published by the memorandum called Manipur: Perils of war & womanhood submitted to Rashida Manjoo (United Nations) by Human rights alert Manipur shows how brutally the Indian forces have been consistently raping our sisters in the last 4 decades.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN MANIPUR & ITS STATISTICS