Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 31:
Referring to the arrest and detention of its general secretary L Umakanta Meitei and publicity secretary Y lanngamba alias Thabi, Threatened Indigenous Peoples' Society (TIPS) cautioned the State authorities that undermining the voices of the people for the duo's unconditional release would only aggravate the situation.
A release issued by the Society today also prevailed upon the law enforcing agencies to cease their ongoing search apparently aimed at arresting its secretary (orgn) W Anand Meetei while reminding the Govt that destruction caused to TIPS' properties like CD copies and literary materials seized during the duo's arrest would be akin to adding fuel to fire thereby inviting public ire.
Reacting strongly to charges (Sec 38/39 UA (P) Act 2004) levelled against the arrested TIPS leaders, the release issued by W Anand Meetei observed that implicating Umakanta and Lanngamba with concocted charges expose agenda of the Govt's campaign to disarm activities of civil society organisations.
It is an undeniable fact that law enforcing agencies and State Government have little concern for safety of public life instead of protecting them, said the release and accused the State authorities of clandestinely promoting acts of terrorism by attempting to gag the public voices.
Taking note of the CJM, Imphal's observation that lack of evidences/witnesses from the police side could not substantiate charges framed against Umakanta and Lanngamba, the rights body expressed strong resentment that Govt's attempt to falsely implicate the duo had caused immense damage to sanctity of TIPS.
opining that resorting to delaying tactic in the case would only aggravate sensitivity of the issue and provoke the people in intensifying their demand for unconditional release of Umakanta and Lanngamba, TIPS also highlighted its activities regarding campaigns on protecting human rights as well as contribution of Umakanta to the humane cause.
Mentioning Umakanta's relentless endeavour towards protection of human rights, TIPS said its general secretary along with Anand Meetei, among others, had participated in the Geneva session of UN Working Group on Indigenous Population as well as at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Solidarity Campaign on Crime Against the Humanity in New York.
Both are responsible executives of the organisation and had been the central force in TIPS highlighting cases of human rights violation at the national and internationally competent fora, maintained the release and listed conduct of photo exhibitions, poster campaigns, human rights education programmes etc towards protection of rights of the indigenous people as the chief component of its endeavours.
Asserting that TIPS is an organisation working relentless for the welfare of the people, the release, apparently referring to charges framed against Umakanta and Lanngamba clarified that it has no connection with any banned terrorist organisation/s.