Imphal, August 12: On the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the Geneva Convention, a panel discussion on international humanitarian law was held today at the office of the Indian Red Cross Society, Manipur State Branch.

The panel discussion programme jointly organised by the Indian Red Cross Society, Manipur State Branch and Human Rights Alert was attended by Prof Lokendro Arambam as chief guest and editor of Ereibak Irengbam Arun as moderator.

The discussion programme was participated by MLA RK Anand, retired Colonel H Bhuban, Head of Political Science Department MU Prof Ksh Bimola, editor of Imphal Free Press Pradip Phanjoubam, Bablu Loitongbam of Human Rights Alert and Dr S Laja of the Indian Red Cross Society, Manipur State Branch.

Bablu Loitongbam asserted that about 300 people are killed in Manipur every year due to the prevailing armed conflict situation.

In aggregate, more than 8000 people have been killed since 1980 due to the armed conflict'.

At present, around 50,000 security personnel are being deployed in Manipur, said Bablu.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, international humanitarian laws are not applicable in Manipur for the prevailing situation in the State is not armed conflict but a law and order problem, he quoted.

MLA RK Anand acknowledged that even as India has deliberated and rectified various international laws, the rate of implementation is quite dismal.

H Bhuban observed that the State Government should not accept any form of excess committed by security forces in Manipur.

He decried the silence maintained by the State Government against excesses committed by security forces, He demanded that the State Government should take up befitting action against the AR Major who dared to ill-treat a Cabinet Minister.

Prof Bimola remarked that the Union Government cannot see the prevailing situation in Manipur as armed conflict or does not want to accept it as armed conflict situation even if they know the truth for the simple reason that they do not want to enforce international humanitarian laws in the State.

In the face of the Union Government's wilful misinterpretation, the legislators and representatives of the State should instill the fact to the Union Government that there is armed conflict in Manipur.

She noted that it needs strong public pressure to make the Govt of India a signatory of the International Humanitarian Law Protocol II.

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