Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30 2009:
Issuing stern warning against the State and the non-State actors from inviting the wrath of the people.
Conflict Widows'' Forum, Manipur; Women Empowerment for Justice; Helping Hands Centre and Self Support Group have jointly submitted a charter of demands to the Government of Manipur.
In the backdrop of the June 23 incident of shoot out at busy Khwairamband Market area which left one pregnant woman and a UG suspect killed apart from causing injuries to five other persons, members of these four organisations joined hands together in staged a mass sit-in protest demonstration at Palace Compound here today denouncing the attitude of both the State and non State actors who toying with the lives of the common people.
Placards with slogans like 'Women and children should not be the target of gunners', 'Restrain from shoot out in public places', 'Enough is enough', 'Who is next ? 'Make the killing list public'.
'We demand resignation of all 60 MLAs who cannot protect women and children', 'How many new widows, how many new orphans in a month? 'Stop genocide", "Don't invite another women's war Lets not make the wailing of the public be the National anthem etc were seen being used during the protest demonstration.
The protestors were mainly those women who have suffered the impact of the ongoing armed conflict in the State, domestic violence or HIV/AIDS.
Submitting a charter of demands to the Government on the sideline of the protest demonstration, the four organisations have also warned both the State and the non-State actors against toying with the lives of the common people and waiting for their patience to cross the limit.
The demands highlighted in the charter include instituting a judicial inquiry into the July 23 firing incident at BT Road, identification of the killers of Rabina and her unborn child, compulsory training of the police commandos and other security forces on human rights and gender rights, "application of the International Humanitarian laws in Manipur as well, implementation of the existing laws and safeguards for women and children in times of war, compulsory counselling on the physical problems and trauma being faced by children in Manipur "Who have suffered the impact of the ongoing armed conflict either directly or in directly and finding a peaceful solution to the armed conflict.