Ratify UN Convention: Activists to GoI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 26 2014: The Government of India should ratify the UN Convention on Torture, and the Government of India and the Government of Manipur should ensure that all the victims of arm conflicts are rehabilitated, said human right activist Wahengbam Joykumar.

The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was observed today at Manipur Press Club under the aegis of the Human Rights Initiative (HRI) and the Women Action for Development (WAD) and Joykumar was speaking at the same gathering.

He said that one third of the total population of Mani-pur are victims of torture committed by armed groups.

People of Manipur have been placed in a highly insecure and fearful atmosphere by imposing the dreaded AFSPA for a protracted period.

Many people have been killed in fake encounters while many others have been made subjects of forced disappearance.

The surviving families of these victims of the State armed actors have never been rehabilitated by the State Government or GoI.

Instead of rehabilitating them, the surviving families have been subjected to torture and mental harassment every nor and then, Joykumar said.

The UN General Assembly resolved to observe June 26 as a day against torture and extend support to all victims of torture.

Noting that India is yet to ratify the UN Convention on Torture, Joykumar said that there is no domestic law to deal with different forms of torture within the country.

There is an urgent need for GoI to ratify UN Convention on Torture and enact a domestic law against torture.

On account of the prolonged imposition of AFSPA, people of Manipur have been living a wretched and dispirited life.

On the other hand, the Government has been claiming to have suppressed the insurgency movement and restored peace.

This is no peace.

It only indicates that the people of Manipur have been forced into submission through brute force and violence, Joykumar remarked.

Torture does not necessarily restrict itself to physical harm and mental harassment committed by armed groups.

Denial of benefits promised by the Government through different welfare schemes is also a kind of torture committed by the Government upon its citizens.

The retired District and Sessions Judge, Manipur West Ph Suren, Manipur Cultural Integrated Conference president A Brajakumar and HRI acting president Yumnam Ratan-kumar attended the function as chief guest, guest of honour and president respec- tively.

North East Dialogue Forum president U Noboki- shore, CORE deputy director Namthiu Panmei, human right activist Y Jitenkumar and others too spoke at the gathering.

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