IMPHAL, December 1: The United NGO`™s Mission Manipur, Women Action for Development (WAD), Centre for Social Development (CSD) North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF), NLF and KCLWDA have strongly condemned the death of an 11-years old boy in a bomb blast in a paddy field near the 40 Assam Rifles post and Lilong Police Station in Thoubal district on December 29.
Speaking to media persons, UNMM secretary U Nobokishore said this is not the lone case where children and civilians have ended being targets of the State and non-State actors.
In the 55 years of AFSPA implementation in the State, children and civilians have only become victims, he said.
Nobokishore said that if Assam Rifles cannot assure protection of children and civilians, then it should lay down their arms and walk away.
He said the explosion could have a political undertone and related to the continuation of the AFSPA as the spot of incident is under 24×7 surveillance of the AR post.
Underlining that the explosive was handed over to the boy by someone, WAD secretary Sobita Mangasatam said the AR post is just about 200 metres from the explosion site and it is an act of cowardice.
She said under the International Humanitarian Laws, a child could not be used as an informer or as a fighter and it is clearly mentioned in the Fourth Geneva Conventions which is adopted by the United Nation that if any organisation or institution does not follow the norm then the organisation or institution is committing a `War Crime` and could be brought under trial she added.
L Pishak, secretary NLF said that if such incidents still continue without serious and proper investigations, surviving in the State will become much hard for the people.
Sitara Begum, secretary KCLWDA said `people of the State has no future if the law of the land is not practice in a right way`.
The United Nation NGOs Manipur and other organisations appealed to the concerned authorities to investigate the case and book the culprits and punish as it is a `War Crime` under the International Humanitarian Law.
The organisations also urged all those involved to kindly stay away from the area where civilians inhabit.