Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, MARCH 1
Noted human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam said the Government of India is deploying numbers of central security forces and army in the north east and Manipur in particular when there is no war in the region. The presence of huge security personnel indicates the de facto existence of war or armed conflict, Babloo stated. If there is a war, international humanitarian laws or laws of armed conflict according to the Geneva Conventions, 1949 should be respected and implemented by the conflicting parties, according to Babloo Loitongbam.
He was speaking at a public meeting on international humanitarian laws and crimes against humanity held today at Keirak, Thoubal district, Manipur.
Speaking as a resource person, Babloo recalled the struggle of Irom Sharmila and the calls by national and international bodies to repeal AFSPA. He wondered why the ruling Congress party and the opposition party BJP at the Centre failed to include the issue of repealing AFSPA in their election manifestoes in the forthcoming Parliamentary election saying the demands to repeal the AFSPA has been going on for decades.
He said that AFSPA is a racist piece of legislation which should be repealed. The human rights activist also reminded the people of the looming emerging issues in Manipur such as that of global trade and business interest. He appealed the people to be alert in such a critical context and be able to visualize the future so as to take concrete steps to save the future generation from doom.
Also speaking on the occasion as a resource person, U Nobokishore, convenor of the North East Dialogue Forum, appreciated the steps taken by the Supreme Court on the extrajudicial killings in Manipur. He however, condemned the act of security forces committing different forms of human rights violations such as killings, raping, torturing and enforced disappearances etc.
Strongly condemning the killing of 1528 persons including women and children in the fake encounters due to the impunity of AFSPA in the past years, Nobokishore urged the government for the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate all other cases of human rights violations such as cases of rape, enforced disappearance, torture and murder etc. and provide justice and reparations to the victims’ families.
Taking cognizance of rape being used as an instrument of war, he urged the government to take strong action against all the rapists irrespective of security forces. He also urged the government of India to implement the recommendation made by Justice J.S. Verma’s Committee with regard to rape.
He further stated that the action of India’s security forces of killings innocent people in different fake encounters, massacres and military operations amount to committing the crimes which magnitude can be termed as genocide, war crime and crimes against humanity. He lamented that in such a situation how the elected representatives can remain silent.
