Have the Guilty been Punished?

Given below is the Resolution adopted by the signatories of the Resolution of the collective on the occasion of a demonstration against the State Terrorism in Manipur at Manipur Bhawan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi, Tuesday, 04 August 2009.

In Manipur the right to life is under suspension. The communities that are living in the valley are suppressed under the reign of terror perpetrated by the Manipur Police Commando (MPC) and the other oppressive armed forces. Those who are living in the hills, the first to suffer under the draconian Armed Forces Special Power's Act 1958 are raising the voice against the proposed deployment of the MPC & Indian Reserved Battalion. The security personnel have not only become perpetrator of extra-judicial killing of civilians in fake encounters but also have become mercenaries that indulge in the brutal suppression of people's clarion call to punishment of the guilty. There is no respite from suppression and harassment by the state terrorism to enjoy a peaceful life. Practically there is no difference between what is actually done in warlordism and what the state police do under the guidance of chief minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi. The gang of state terrorism, which is what the Manipur Police Commando (MPC) is now in the state, have become commission seekers and looters who would kill anyone for money and promotion. Several individuals are falsely implicated after they are killed in fake encounter and as a result anybody now becomes a posthumous terrorist.

The fake encounter of 23 July 2009 is a glaring example of this brutality of the MPC. On that day a gruesome killing spree was unleashed by the MPC at the heart of the crowded Imphal City in broad daylight. It led to the killing of a pregnant woman Ms. Thokchom (Ongbi) Rabina and a medical attendant Mr. Chongkham Sanjit and injury of Mrs. Wankheirakpam Gitarani Devi (40), wife of (L) W Nongyai Singh of Tengdongyang, Mrs. Ningthoujam Kishorani Devi (43), wife of N Raghumani Singh of Narakonjin, Mr. Golmei Mangal (58), son of Lemba of Maha Kabui Namching, New Keithelmanbi, Mr. Pangambam Lukhoi Singh (30), son of P Pakchao Singh of Heingang Makha Leikai and Mr. Kangabam Subhachandra Singh (40), son of K Samungou Singh of Kha-Potsangbam. In order to cover up the crime Ibobi had immediately responded with a fabricated report of the incident in the Manipur Assembly. He had charged the insurgents operating in Manipur as responsible for it. Not a single MLA in the State Assembly including the opposition party had raised voice for a judicial enquiry into the incident. The truth was totally silenced and kept out of public attention. One general position that the chief minister strongly upholds is to deliberately deny a transparent judicial enquiry of the incident and also to deny the validity of the public voices against such killings. Justice was denied to the victims and those who demanded judicial enquiry were arrested on 23 July. However, a detail visual report of the fake encounter was exposed by the Tehelka Weekly on 31 July 2009.

In Manipur the rights of justice and democratic protest are being denied. The Chief Minister, instead of owning the moral responsibility for the fake encounter and for misleading the people of Manipur by a fabricated report has responded with the familiar terror tactics. For the last few days there has been series of clamp down upon civil societies, arrest of the civil leaders, imposition of curfews, brutal repression of the protest against the state terrorism, and deliberate delay in the institution of a transparent judicial enquiry. The past experiences and the present situation have confirmed our perception about the democratic ideals that are believed to be ensured under the provisions of the Indian Constitution as meaningless for the suppressed people of Manipur. And we know that the militant Chief Minister, his government and the state mercenaries that are operating in Manipur are the instruments of governance instituted by the Government of India. We, therefore, expressed our plight and sought for an answer as to shouldn't the people of Manipur be allowed to enjoy the rights of peace & democracy or should they be perpetually governed as something other under the oppressive regime?

We condemn terrorism in any form in any part of Manipur and any further attempt to extend the state terrorism in any part of Manipur, both hills and valley.

We demand immediate revoking of the false statement of 23 July made by the chief minister of Manipur.

We demand the resignation of the Chief Minister on moral ground considering the precariousness of life that his rule in Manipur has created.

We demand immediate and complete dismissal and strongest punishment of the MPC terrorists responsible for killing of the civilians.

We, therefore, invited the victims of state terrorism and progressive individuals and organisations cutting across community and administrative boundaries to come together to collectively raise against state terrorism.

Signatories of the Resolution of the collective on the occasion of a demonstration against the State Terrorism in Manipur at Manipur Bhawan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi, Tuesday, 04 August 2009

Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association, Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, Hmar Students' Association, Naga Students' Union Delhi, Lok Raj Sangathan, Campaign For Peace & Democracy (Manipur), Progressive Democratic Students' Union, Manipur Students' Association Delhi, North East Support Centre, People's Union for Democratic Rights and Pratidhwani

After months of protest by the JACs, meira paibis, Civil societies and the student bodies and after months of schools being closed, the case has finally been handed over to the CBI for investigation. While the State Government and the Manipur Human Rights Commision are in a deadlock over the Independent Inquiry undertaken by the MHRC but that has been suspended now due to the case in the High Court. I and I think a majority of the people have some questions to asked the Government of Manipur

1. Why was the State Government hell bent on suspending the Independent Inquiry undertaken by the Manipur Human Rights Commission?


2. What happen to the Judicial Inquiry instituted by the State Government?


3. Is is true that the involved Police Commandoes have been suspended only in paper? Is it true that they have been transferred to a more discreet place of posting?


4. Is there a deadline on the CBI investigation? And will the State Government chargesheet the guilty Police Commando and their Superior Officers if the CBI finds them Guilty?

To us public, it look like the State Government is simply buying time. The CBI are notorious for taking their own time in their investigation. By the time their investigation is over most of the senior officers will have retired and the Present ministry would be no more. And the guilty Police Commando would have vanished from the face of the earth.

The July 23rd incident was witnessed by many but none will come out to testify. We, the people are really afraid.