‘State cannot deny the due process of law to anybody’

Staff Reporter Dimapur, May 10 (EMN): The apparent policy of the government of India (GoI) in dismissing ‘armed conflict’ as ‘law and order problem’ -state’s recourse route to prevent international intervention and the application of humanitarian laws, pointed out director Centre for Refugee Law Studies and Research GU & president, Citizens Collective Coordinator, Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament & Environmental Protection (IIPDEP) Professor Subhram Rajkhowa, while speaking on the topic “International Humanitarian Norms” as the resource person. He was addressing a seminar on “Partnering in action towards international campaign for humanitarian norms, gender and child rights protection” organised by Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) on Wednesday at Hotel Acacia, Dimapur. “The government cannot shy away from inviting international agencies to monitor and assess conflicts,” Rajkhowa asserted while stating “state cannot deny the due process of law to anybody.” Rajkhowa said the application of humanitarian laws is not confined to war-which is a general misconception but has a much wider scope which is applicable in times of ‘war and peace’. As per Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, humanitarian laws encompasses non-international armed conflicts and most of today’s conflicts, including those in the north east, are under this category in nature, he added. He also accentuated on the need to promote non-state actors like International Red Cross Society (IRCS) in conflict areas, saying they cannot work independently in highlighting violation of human rights because the GOI does not permit them to act or intervene. The GOI has always tried to belittle this part of the region including Jammu and Kashmir because of the fact that other international organisations will interfere, confided Rajkhowa. “NSCN (U) has signed and affirmed not to use anti-personnel landmine, to stop violence against women during conflict and against recruitment of children below 18 years while NSCN (I-M) was yet to sign against recruitment of children below 18 years”, informed legislator Dr Longri in his keynote address wherein he also recounted the history of human rights movement in Nagaland. Dr Longri thereupon appealed the NPGs to extend co-operation, while calling upon them to join this movement, contribute and let the world know that ‘Nagas love peace and respect humanity’. The cultural precondition of stringent patriarchal values which is not a recent development is infused in all cultural practices with the power relation of men and women always to the advantage of men said Dr Anungla Aier, principal of Kohima Science College while expounding on the topic “Gender Prerogative-respecting women”. Articulating that she is neither a gender expert nor a women activist but a Naga woman concern of the future society, Dr Aier observed that the gender issue is challenging which may take longer time. When we try to unpack gender issue, we will see multiple questions arising especially on empowerment of women and the gender issue remains more pressing but less understood maintained Dr. Aier. “Gender is a neutral term but only issues relating to women are addressed. It is so because of inequality and imbalance of power”, maintained the resource person. Dwelling on gender prerogative in the Naga context, Dr Aier confided ‘Nagas find themselves at crossroad between tradition and modernity and therefore we need to strengthen gender rights not in traditional aspect but on a human rights view’. Locating gender is very important to understand the patterns of inclusion and exclusion especially in a Naga society where kin based segment is practiced wherein men are recognised as permanent member and women are not included into any forum. This structure has been inherited from our forefathers, stated Dr Aier. She was vocal articulating that the consequence of such practice is effecting the empowerment of women. The key challenges to secure women’s rights is to break down the structural obstacles build around the traditional practices and this can be done with active participation of men conveyed the academician which is necessary to create the enabling environment in our Naga society. ‘The support system from the government is not strong when issue pertaining to Child’s right is concern’ shared Director, Prodigals’ Home Dimapur K Ela while emphasising as the resource person on the topic “Child Rights Protection”. The adults are the one violating a Child’s rights and girls are not safe even in their own home while most of the issues go unreported even in newspapers. A child is deprived of his or her right to identity while confining them as domestic workers which is illegal and children’s rights is the worst right violated in Naga society, specified the activist thereupon questioning the Naga civil society participants on why do we have to uproot a child from their family and confined in someone’s home only to be send to a government school which do not function. Many children are exploited in the name of their own rights which include education, shared Ela from her own encounters. When the community and society should come together to protect Child’s right, we are more self-centred lamented Ela. Negligence of children with special needs is an area of concern that needs to be addressed where children with special needs are denied admittance in institutions violating their rights, observed Ela and opined the governance at grass root level to be weak. Sharing the challenges of working as child right activist, she pointed out that there is extreme pressure from all quarters thereby limiting the issue to be addressed. She was also critical of the customary laws handling such sensitive concern while pointing out that the customary way of tackling children’s cases is not justifying thereby violating a child’s right. Remarking delivery of justice to children to be a long process, she persuaded students’ organisation to have a system in place to concentrate on Child’s right. The seminar attended by various Naga civil societies was chaired by NPMHR Secretary Neingulo Krome, welcome note delivered by Naga Hoho assembly secretary K Elu Ndang and gratitude rendered by Lemtsase Sangtam, deputy speaker, Eastern Nagaland Student’s Federation.