UNLF derides GoI's assurance
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 20 2014: Referring to the Government of India's submission to the Supreme Court that any security personnel found guilty for fake encounter would be dealt with sternly, the proscribed UNLF has lambasted the same assurance as some empty promises.

A statement issued by the outfit's director in-charge M Sak Hen alleged that the head of the incumbent Government Narendra Modi was involved in many cases of fake encounters in Gujarat between 2002 and 2007.It cited the cases of Isharat, Sorabudin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati.

The Chief of Army Staff Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag was involved in killing three Manipuris.

Given their track records, people of Manipur have nothing to expect from the Government of India led by the likes of Narendra Modi and Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag regarding delivery of justice to fake encounter cases.

Fake encounter, extrajudicial execution, enforced disappearance and AFSPA are all tools for subjugation of Manipuri people and they have been enduring the alien rule for the last 65 years since Manipur was allegedly annexed into the Indian Union.

To the people of Manipur, all these words like democracy, Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and Media (mainland) mean the same thing.

It has been more than 10/20 years since the Operation Blue Bird, Heirangoithong Killing, Tera Keithel Firing, RIMS Massacre, Tonsem Lamkhai Killing and Malom Massacre but no trial has been conducted and justice remains an illusion.

Even as different enquiry commissions including the Upendra Enquiry Committee which investigated into 27 different cases categorically stated that all these cases were fake encounters, none of the guilty security personnel has been punished till date rather they have been honoured with different awards and promotions.

Acting on a PIL filed by EEVFAM and Human Rights Alert to investigate into 1528 cases of extrajudicial killings committed by security forces, the Supreme Court constituted retired Justice Santosh Hegde Committee and it probed into six cases involving killing of seven persons.

The commission, after investigation, reported that all the six cases were fake encounters but the Government of India has been overlooking the same report.

As such, people of Manipur have nothing to expect from the alien rule.

Even as Irom Chanu Sharmila has been fasting for more than 13 years demanding repeal of AFSPA with the support of many human right groups, apart from Jeevan Reddy Committee's recommendation to repeal the Act, the Government of India has been paying little heed.

The Government of India has shown little concern even after more than 1500 civilians were killed in fake encounters, 24 women raped and 19 civilians were made victims of forced disappearance, asserted the outfit adding that this was a manifestation of the Government of India's racism and discriminatory policies.

"The only way to free ourselves from all these repressive measures, violation of civil and political rights is to wage massive and collective liberation movement", the outfit concluded.

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