Memo to UN envoy airs agonies
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 28 2013: Leaders of civil society organisations, human right defenders, victim families and advocates interacted with UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women Rashida Manjoo and submitted memorandums.

The consultative meeting held today at Classic Hotel was participated by around 200 delegates during which the UN envoy was apprised about violence against women witnessed in North East India, particularly Manipur.

Widows whose husbands were shot dead as an offshoot of the prolonged armed conflict situation and families whose daughters were raped and murdered presented their sad and horrifying experience to the visiting United Nations representative.

Filled with emotions upon learning the horrid experiences of the victims' families Rashida openly broke down to tears with the mother of Thangjam Manorama who also made a deposition of her case today.

Rashida could not control her emotion when Manora-ma's mother, filled with tears, shared her testimony and appealed for justice for her daughter who was killed after being allegedly tortured and raped by security forces in 2004 .

The consultative meeting was moderated by former Chairperson of Arunachal Pradesh State Women Commission Jarjum Ete.

Nandini Thokchom of CSCHR, Dr N Pramodini of Women Studies Centre (MU), Anjuman Ara Begum of Wing NE, Nina Ningombam of EEVFAM, Irom Singhajit of Just Peace Foundation, U Nobokishore of the United NGOs Mission Manipur, Thasana of All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen's Association, Maibam Nganbi of Lam-phel Yaipha Leikai, Lata of the Women Survivor's Network and RK Landhoni of the Working Group of Meira Paibi Movement in Manipur gave their accounts of human rights violation and crimes against women.

Haopu Khongsai of Kuki Movement for Human Rights, Aram Panmei of Naga Women Union, Jina Shang-kham of NPMHR, Watso Hanse of the Karbi Human Rights Watch, JN Swami of the Joint Women's Organisation Churachandpur, Darshim Maring of Reach-M, Thoi-chula of the Alliance for Child Rights Ukhrul and Gangarani Thongam of the Conflict Widows Forum too spoke at the meetings.

Others who spoke at the consultative meeting included Pradip Keisham of Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, So-bita Mangshatabam of Women Action for Development,Sumila Linggi of Emzalu- menda Women Organisation (Arunachal Pradesh), Bondita If Acharya of Wing Assam, Doma Bhutia of the Human Rights Law Network Sikkim, Kiriti Roy of MASUM (West Bengal), Ashim Ghosh of Child Relief and You (West Bengal) and Agnes Kharshing of the Civil Society Women Organisation, Mehalaya.

Women Action for Development submitted a memorandum highlighting detail account of 12 cases regarding rape and murder of Tondon, Ichal, Chanbi, Meneka, Premila, Satyabhama, RK Ratanmala, Hatkholhing Guite, Darsana, Bimiya, Catherine and Babysana.

Irom Singhajit, elder brother of Irom Sharmila too submitted a memorandum to Rashida Manjoo.

Singhajit's memorandum highlighted the hardships being endured by the people of Manipur on account of the armed conflict situation and concomitant rampant human rights violation.

It also conveyed about Sharmila's unparalleled 12 year old fast against the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The meeting which started from 9 am continued till 1 pm and Rashida Manjoo left Imphal after a brief interaction with journalists in the afternoon.

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