HNS/Imphal, Sep 11: Believe it not! The names of as many as six teachers who have already passed away and many others who have retired from service years ago were in the transfer order issued by the State Education Department recently as part of the effort towards rationalisation of teachers working in various Government schools in the State. Shocked over the revelation, teaching community in Manipur under the banner of Council of Teachers’ Association (COTA) have demanded cancellation of the defective transfer order and warned of launching various intense agitations including fast unto death stir from September 15 if the demand is not met. A decision to this effect was arrived at during a meeting convened by COTA at Manipur Press Club here today. Talking to media after the meeting, convenors of COTA namely P Koireng, Ch Santakumar and M Joykumar informed that the defective transfer order in question was issued by the State Education Department after praising the works of teachers during Teachers’ Day celebration. Highlighting the anomalies in the transfer order, COTA submitted memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro, but no corrective measures have been taken up by the State Government and its Education Department, they lamented. They further pointed out that apart from inclusion of dead and retired teachers, the transfer order also have same teachers posted in two separate schools. Moreover, as per the policy of the government, teachers can not be transferred during midsession of an academic term as this would affect the students. But many teachers who were recently given new postings were again transferred and teachers who were recently posted in urban areas after serving for decades in interior areas were again posted to interior areas, they said, adding that lady teachers were also posted in interior areas where there is no government quarters or boarding facilities, not to speak about proper roads and communication facilities.COTA demanded that the Government should formulate a proper transfer policy and stop the pick and choose policy.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Women vendors observe ‘Invisible 9/11’ to protest 56-years of AFSPA
IMPHAL, September 11: Women vendors of the Khwairamband Keithel observed the “Invisible Day” today, September 9, when 56 years ago, the then President of India Dr Radhakrishna signed the imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir.
The observation of the day was launched in 2008 by the Just Peace Foundation.
Several organisations of the seven States of the North East also converged at Guwahati to observe the day and took several resolutions inlcuding taking up intensive mobilization of the masses of NE to oppose this draconian law and the struggle against the Act by linking up with other peoples’ movements in the region
The women vendors observed the day with a silent protest around 1:30pm at the keithel premises.
Keeping their lips covered with black cloths, they sat on the stairs of the keithel under the banner “Stop State terrorism, 56 years of AFSPA is not temporary measure.”
Meanwhile, a panel discussion on the issue was also organised later in the evening at the Manipur Press Club which was converted to a press meet after the panellists failed to turn up.
The press meet was attended by Tezpur Gurukul CBSE School academic head Barnali Sarma Baruah, advocate Alakananda Kakati, Just Peace Foundation managing trustee Anandi; Just Peace Foundation member Irom Shekharjit; Maharaja Budha Chandra College professor Dr Homen Thangjam and research scholar Seram Rojesh.
Speaking at the conference, advocate Alakananda said every North Eastern State should join in Irom Chanu Sharmila’s movement to repeal AFSPA-1958.
The Act has been time and again misused by the security forces, she said.
Barnali Sarma condemning the Act said that the draconian AFSPA is acting against human interest.
She expressed that Sharmila’s demand is very much fundamental and all sections of the community must unite and support her.
She said AFSPA-1958 imposed in the NE states of India has totally hindered human rights.
All we have here is ‘electoral democracy’ said Dr Homen Thangjam during the press meet.
Every place where this draconian Act is imposed has suffered directly or indirectly. This Act has inflicted a fear psychosis amongst the general populace, he said.
Not only are the people of the region facing human rights violation under the draconian Act, but the region is at the same time losing the natural resources, he said.
Just Peace Foundation member Shekharjit said sit in protests and conventions were held at Meghalaya, Tripura, Guwahati and Bodo inhabitant areas of Assam against the draconian Act today.
Meanwhile, To recall the presidential assent given to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act on September 11, 1958, a gathering of different civil societies of Northeast region was held today at Guwahati.
The organisations present were Centre for Research and Advocacy, Human Rights Alert, Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti, WingG-India, North East Dialogue Forum, Borok People Human Rights Organisation, Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, People’s Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram, according to a statement from HRA.
The statement said eminent personalities of the region like Prof Apurba Kr Baruah, Advocate Bijon Mahajan, writer and social activist Kaka Iralu, Dr Prasenjit Biswas, Babloo Loitongbam, Anjuman Ara Begum and Prof Akhil Ranjan Dutta among others deliberated on various aspects of the imposition and continuation of AFSPA at the meeting.
The speakers highlighted on the horrendous stories of atrocities committed by the armed forces of the Union of India, including aerial bombing, burning down of villages, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and inhumane degrading treatment etc., under the impunity provided by the AFSPA, added the statement.
Further the statement continued that the deliberations emphasised on the fact that rape and other forms of sexual violence have been used as weapons of masculine militarisation under the Act, adding that the AFSPA is increasingly used to gag and subvert the democratic voices against the unsustainable, predatory and anti-people mega dams and other development projects.
It added that the gathering deeply felt the need to liberate the upcoming generations from the inter-generational trauma inflicted by the militarised state of exception under AFSPA. The gathering lamented on the fact that various officials Commissions and Committees set up by the Government of India has also unanimously recommended the repeal of AFSPA, but nothing has been done so far in this regard.
It maintained that AFSPA violates not only the international human rights standards but even the international humanitarian law. The gathering unanimously agreed to take up intensive moblisation of the masses of the Northeast to oppose the draconian law. In the same regard, it was also agreed to constitute a Northeast platform for a broader coordination and coalition of various human rights groups, civil society groups, peoples’ movements at both regional as well as atall-India level by going beyond ethnic, tribal and community affiliations, added the statement.
The observation of the day was launched in 2008 by the Just Peace Foundation.
Several organisations of the seven States of the North East also converged at Guwahati to observe the day and took several resolutions inlcuding taking up intensive mobilization of the masses of NE to oppose this draconian law and the struggle against the Act by linking up with other peoples’ movements in the region
The women vendors observed the day with a silent protest around 1:30pm at the keithel premises.
Keeping their lips covered with black cloths, they sat on the stairs of the keithel under the banner “Stop State terrorism, 56 years of AFSPA is not temporary measure.”
Meanwhile, a panel discussion on the issue was also organised later in the evening at the Manipur Press Club which was converted to a press meet after the panellists failed to turn up.
The press meet was attended by Tezpur Gurukul CBSE School academic head Barnali Sarma Baruah, advocate Alakananda Kakati, Just Peace Foundation managing trustee Anandi; Just Peace Foundation member Irom Shekharjit; Maharaja Budha Chandra College professor Dr Homen Thangjam and research scholar Seram Rojesh.
Speaking at the conference, advocate Alakananda said every North Eastern State should join in Irom Chanu Sharmila’s movement to repeal AFSPA-1958.
The Act has been time and again misused by the security forces, she said.
Barnali Sarma condemning the Act said that the draconian AFSPA is acting against human interest.
She expressed that Sharmila’s demand is very much fundamental and all sections of the community must unite and support her.
She said AFSPA-1958 imposed in the NE states of India has totally hindered human rights.
All we have here is ‘electoral democracy’ said Dr Homen Thangjam during the press meet.
Every place where this draconian Act is imposed has suffered directly or indirectly. This Act has inflicted a fear psychosis amongst the general populace, he said.
Not only are the people of the region facing human rights violation under the draconian Act, but the region is at the same time losing the natural resources, he said.
Just Peace Foundation member Shekharjit said sit in protests and conventions were held at Meghalaya, Tripura, Guwahati and Bodo inhabitant areas of Assam against the draconian Act today.
Meanwhile, To recall the presidential assent given to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act on September 11, 1958, a gathering of different civil societies of Northeast region was held today at Guwahati.
The organisations present were Centre for Research and Advocacy, Human Rights Alert, Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti, WingG-India, North East Dialogue Forum, Borok People Human Rights Organisation, Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, People’s Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram, according to a statement from HRA.
The statement said eminent personalities of the region like Prof Apurba Kr Baruah, Advocate Bijon Mahajan, writer and social activist Kaka Iralu, Dr Prasenjit Biswas, Babloo Loitongbam, Anjuman Ara Begum and Prof Akhil Ranjan Dutta among others deliberated on various aspects of the imposition and continuation of AFSPA at the meeting.
The speakers highlighted on the horrendous stories of atrocities committed by the armed forces of the Union of India, including aerial bombing, burning down of villages, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and inhumane degrading treatment etc., under the impunity provided by the AFSPA, added the statement.
Further the statement continued that the deliberations emphasised on the fact that rape and other forms of sexual violence have been used as weapons of masculine militarisation under the Act, adding that the AFSPA is increasingly used to gag and subvert the democratic voices against the unsustainable, predatory and anti-people mega dams and other development projects.
It added that the gathering deeply felt the need to liberate the upcoming generations from the inter-generational trauma inflicted by the militarised state of exception under AFSPA. The gathering lamented on the fact that various officials Commissions and Committees set up by the Government of India has also unanimously recommended the repeal of AFSPA, but nothing has been done so far in this regard.
It maintained that AFSPA violates not only the international human rights standards but even the international humanitarian law. The gathering unanimously agreed to take up intensive moblisation of the masses of the Northeast to oppose the draconian law. In the same regard, it was also agreed to constitute a Northeast platform for a broader coordination and coalition of various human rights groups, civil society groups, peoples’ movements at both regional as well as atall-India level by going beyond ethnic, tribal and community affiliations, added the statement.
Uncovering of fake encounters continues
HNS/Imphal, Sep 11: In yet another glaring revelation of justice against the fake encounter episodesarticulated by the security forces in Manipur, a division bench of High Court of Manipur comprising Chief Justice Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra and Justice Nongmeikapam Koteswar Singh today ordered for payment of Rs. 10 lakh as compensation to the two petitioners who filed different writ petitions concerning the two fake encounter cases.
In both the cases, Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh appeared on behalf of the petitioners, while Central Government Standing Counsel Amarjit Naorem and Senior Government Advocate R.S Reisang defended on behalf of the Union of India and the Manipur state respectively.
According to a release of Human Rights Law Network Manipur, on 28 December 2008, one Thiyam Amit Meitei accompanied by his friend Moirangthem Inaobi Meitei went out to Tshomyang village on a Yamaha motorcycle along with a cash amount of Rs. 10,500/- to be paid to the chief of the village as price for the timbers purchased by his father. The duo were arrested by a team of 23 Assam Rifles at Sabungkhok village and taken to its custody at Yaingangpokpi. After severe torture, the AR personnel separated the two. Thereafter, Lamlai Police station reported an encounter case between AR-Commando combined security force and some unknown persons on 29 December 2008 at 7 pm at Nongren Chinglak.
According to police report, Thiyam Amit Meitei was killed during the encounter case, while one 9 mm pistol with magazine and 4 live rounds of ammunitions were recovered near the dead body, it recalled, saying that Moirangthem Inaobi Meitei was however brought to the official quarter of the then Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly by the police commandoes and subsequently released.
Dissatisfied with the police allegations, mother of Thiyam Amit filed a writ petition in 2009 before the High Court which accordingly directed an enquiry into the circumstances of Amit’s death, HRLN release said.
The District Judge, Manipur East submitted its report on 27 July 2012 stating that Thiyam Amit was killed by the 23 Assam Rifles and Manipur Police Commandoes in a fake encounter case on 29 December 2008 at around 7 pm, it added.
The High Court of Manipur has subsequently ordered the DGP Manipur, the Home Secretary and theDefence Secretary, Govt. of India to pay a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the petitioner within 4 months.
In another case, Soubam Baocha alias Shachuinta, who had left home to purchase certain iron bars for construction of his house on 28 December 2008, never returned home. His family found the dead body of Baocha along with that of his friend Salam Gurung at RIMS Hospital, Lamphelpat, the release stated.
However, Lamlai Police station designed a false report of ambush on the team of 23 AR and Police commandoes in which two persons were killed in retaliatory firing. Police claimed recovery of 2 pistols and some live rounds of ammunitions from the dead bodies, it added.
Acting on a writ petition filed by the mother of the deceased, Soubam Radhe Devi, the High Court ordered an enquiry into the death of Baocha. Accordingly the District Judge Manipur east submitted its report saying that Soubam Baocha was arrested along with Salam Gurung by a combined team of Police Commando Imphal west and 23 AR on 28 December 2008. They were killed at the foothill of Huimei Ching in Imphal east District in a fake encounter case.
The High Court in its judgment ordered for payment of Rs. 5 lakh compensation to the petitioner within 4 months, it continued.
In both the cases, Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh appeared on behalf of the petitioners, while Central Government Standing Counsel Amarjit Naorem and Senior Government Advocate R.S Reisang defended on behalf of the Union of India and the Manipur state respectively.
According to a release of Human Rights Law Network Manipur, on 28 December 2008, one Thiyam Amit Meitei accompanied by his friend Moirangthem Inaobi Meitei went out to Tshomyang village on a Yamaha motorcycle along with a cash amount of Rs. 10,500/- to be paid to the chief of the village as price for the timbers purchased by his father. The duo were arrested by a team of 23 Assam Rifles at Sabungkhok village and taken to its custody at Yaingangpokpi. After severe torture, the AR personnel separated the two. Thereafter, Lamlai Police station reported an encounter case between AR-Commando combined security force and some unknown persons on 29 December 2008 at 7 pm at Nongren Chinglak.
According to police report, Thiyam Amit Meitei was killed during the encounter case, while one 9 mm pistol with magazine and 4 live rounds of ammunitions were recovered near the dead body, it recalled, saying that Moirangthem Inaobi Meitei was however brought to the official quarter of the then Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly by the police commandoes and subsequently released.
Dissatisfied with the police allegations, mother of Thiyam Amit filed a writ petition in 2009 before the High Court which accordingly directed an enquiry into the circumstances of Amit’s death, HRLN release said.
The District Judge, Manipur East submitted its report on 27 July 2012 stating that Thiyam Amit was killed by the 23 Assam Rifles and Manipur Police Commandoes in a fake encounter case on 29 December 2008 at around 7 pm, it added.
The High Court of Manipur has subsequently ordered the DGP Manipur, the Home Secretary and theDefence Secretary, Govt. of India to pay a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the petitioner within 4 months.
In another case, Soubam Baocha alias Shachuinta, who had left home to purchase certain iron bars for construction of his house on 28 December 2008, never returned home. His family found the dead body of Baocha along with that of his friend Salam Gurung at RIMS Hospital, Lamphelpat, the release stated.
However, Lamlai Police station designed a false report of ambush on the team of 23 AR and Police commandoes in which two persons were killed in retaliatory firing. Police claimed recovery of 2 pistols and some live rounds of ammunitions from the dead bodies, it added.
Acting on a writ petition filed by the mother of the deceased, Soubam Radhe Devi, the High Court ordered an enquiry into the death of Baocha. Accordingly the District Judge Manipur east submitted its report saying that Soubam Baocha was arrested along with Salam Gurung by a combined team of Police Commando Imphal west and 23 AR on 28 December 2008. They were killed at the foothill of Huimei Ching in Imphal east District in a fake encounter case.
The High Court in its judgment ordered for payment of Rs. 5 lakh compensation to the petitioner within 4 months, it continued.
Training programme for Juvenile Police Units commences
IMPHAL, Sep 11: A three day Training Programme for the Juvenile Special Police Units of Imphal East and Imphal West commenced today at State Bal Bhawan, Khuman Lampak, Imphal.
The training programme is organised by the Department of Social Welfare under the sponsorship of the State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD).
The opening day of the three days training programme was attended by Joint Secretary of Social Welfare Department H Rupachandra Singh, Director of Social Welfare Department Dr Rangitabali Waikhom and Deputy Director of Social Welfare Department Th Joychandra Singh as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.
While speaking as the chief guest of the function H Rupachandra said that the training programme has been organised to train the concerned authorities pertaining to the ways of treatment and reformation of the under 18 teens who have involved in criminal activities.
He further asserted that juvenile cases, in earlier days, were treated in the same way as any other adult or mature criminal cases. They were remanded in the same lockups where the adult criminals were remanded.
Treatment of juvenile cases like genuine criminal cases had led to destruction of children's career and life which could have been reformed.
Since the Juvenile Justice Act was passed by the Indian parliament, new provisions have been added to help juvenile accused through reformation and rehabilitation.
There were cases of child trafficking where children were rescued from Singapore and Bangalore who were taken there for employment in business establishments as labourers. Parents of these children were misguided by some NGOs or pseudo mission workers in the name of free education. The rescued children are being provided free education, note-books and school uniforms.
On the basis of the guidelines of the Juvenile Justice Act, if a child gets caught for his/her involvement in criminal cases, he /she would be kept under observation instead of cells or lockups so that the children can be reformed psychologically and bring back the wayward children to the mainstream, he added. While giving his presidential speech during the function, Th Joychandra Singh said that there are different provisions and special juvenile police units to tackle juvenile cases. It also helps the children who were involved in criminal activities to reform themselves, who would otherwise become real criminals.
Guest of honour of the function, Dr Rangitabali Waikhom said that the training programme has been organised specially for the Imphal East and West District Juvenile Police Units. The units have been established under the concerned district police stations on the basis of Juvenile Justice Act.
The setup has been established in each police stations to tackle selected juvenile cases.
The training programme has been organised to provide a safety net for such children by holding detailed discussions on the rules and objectives of the Juvenile Justice Act, she added.
During the technical session of the function, Programme Officer (CNCP) of State Child Protection Society, Sandhyarani Mangshatabam spoke on the Introduction of ICPS and its service delivery structures.
Also, president CORE, Debabrata Roy Laiphungbam spoke on Child Rights: UNCRC perspective and Human Defender Indigenous perspective while Nandini Thokchom spoke on Analysis of Children in Manipur.
Significantly Manipur has seen a number of crimes committed by minors in the last few years.
A number of crime committed by youngsters has been reported in the State dailies and many had expressed deep concern over the growing crime rate amongst minors.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
98 fake encounter cases involve children as victims
IMPHAL, March 2: There are 1524 reported cases of fake encounters in Manipur pending in the Supreme Court, among which, 98 cases involved children below the age of 18, said president of the Manipur Alliance for Child Rights, K Pradeep Singh today addressing a one day consultation on “United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1985.”
He further identified some of the child victims as Khoisnam Singhajit, 10 from Singjamei Makha Liwa Road; Kishankumar Sharma, 10, from Mandok Leikai Churachanpur; Master Raichuilung, 6 from Nugleiban village; Sadokpam Lakhikanta Singh, 13 from Mongsangei Arubam Leikai, etc.
The convention was held at the Kachikhul Community Hall, Imphal West organized by the Village Women Co-ordinating Committee (VWCOC), North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF), United NGO Mission Manipur (UNM-M), Kachikhul Women Development Association (KWDA), other women societies and youth clubs.
In 2004 at Kangla, during his visit to the state capital, the country’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had promised the people of the state that AFSPA will be replaced by a more favourable Act, Pradeep said.
“However, he is yet to fulfil his promise.”
President of Women Action for Development, Sobita Mangsatabam said in the Governor’s speech during the opening day of the ongoing 7th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, Manipur Governor VK Duggal had observed that there are 60 insurgency groups in the state.
Citing that the number of insurgent groups in the state had increased only after the imposition of the act, she said AFSPA was imposed in Nagaland to control the NSCN, and a few years later it was imposed in the state.
At the time of the Act’s imposition in the state, there were only a few insurgency groups in the state, however, the numbers had increased only thereafter, she said questioning the need for the imposition of the Act in the state.
During the convention several testimonies on the impact of the dreaded AFSPA were also placed.
Kh Dilip Kumar a participant expressed that his brother Ajit Kumar was slain during a fake encounter by a team of Assam Rifles on February 14, 2004.
He further identified some of the child victims as Khoisnam Singhajit, 10 from Singjamei Makha Liwa Road; Kishankumar Sharma, 10, from Mandok Leikai Churachanpur; Master Raichuilung, 6 from Nugleiban village; Sadokpam Lakhikanta Singh, 13 from Mongsangei Arubam Leikai, etc.
The convention was held at the Kachikhul Community Hall, Imphal West organized by the Village Women Co-ordinating Committee (VWCOC), North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF), United NGO Mission Manipur (UNM-M), Kachikhul Women Development Association (KWDA), other women societies and youth clubs.
In 2004 at Kangla, during his visit to the state capital, the country’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had promised the people of the state that AFSPA will be replaced by a more favourable Act, Pradeep said.
“However, he is yet to fulfil his promise.”
President of Women Action for Development, Sobita Mangsatabam said in the Governor’s speech during the opening day of the ongoing 7th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, Manipur Governor VK Duggal had observed that there are 60 insurgency groups in the state.
Citing that the number of insurgent groups in the state had increased only after the imposition of the act, she said AFSPA was imposed in Nagaland to control the NSCN, and a few years later it was imposed in the state.
At the time of the Act’s imposition in the state, there were only a few insurgency groups in the state, however, the numbers had increased only thereafter, she said questioning the need for the imposition of the Act in the state.
During the convention several testimonies on the impact of the dreaded AFSPA were also placed.
Kh Dilip Kumar a participant expressed that his brother Ajit Kumar was slain during a fake encounter by a team of Assam Rifles on February 14, 2004.
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