IMPHAL | Dec 10 : As part of the International Human Rights Day observation, a discussion on human rights, armed conflict and pre-merger status of Manipur was held today at State Guest House, Sanjenthong.
The event was organised by Coalition for Indigenous Rights Campaign (CIRCA).
Research associate at Centre for South East Asia Study, MU, Kangubam Sanatomba, former member of Manipur State Human Rights Commission, Yambem Laba and associate professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) A. Bimol Akoijam spoke during the function.
Convener of CIRCA, Somorendro Thokchom told reporters at the sidelines of the event today that situation of Manipur and UN Declaration of Human Rights is totally contradictory.
It is rather saddening that after Merger Agreement of the state with Indian Government in 1949, judicial killings, custodial rape cases and other numerous cases of human rights violations are in the rise at the state, he pointed out.
This programme is not an observance of the day, but discussion on human rights, whether NE states especially Manipur is actually getting the benefits of human rights inscribed in the United Nation of Declaration of Human Rights, Somorendro said.
He also said that demands and movements in the state such as ILP, ST and removal of AFSPA are given birth by the Merger Agreement to which Manipur lost its sovereignty.
Bimol Akoijam, associate professor of JNU narrated how human rights was achieved from England in 1205 with Magna Carta.
He said that since then sovereignty has been given to the nation and not monarchy or the ruler.
Continuing his speech on in the context of Manipur, the people lost its independence and sovereignty after signing the Merger Agreement.
“It is high time that our people self realised that our rights are within us and not from external upper hand”, he said.
Sanatomba, research associate at MU said that the demand for pre-merger status of CIRCA may create major contradictions, national conflict and ethnic conflict in the state.
As a result, he suggested the CIRCA to redefine the pre-merger status demands inorder to avoid confusion.
, stressed the need of dialectics for society’s development and to generate political relationship between India and Manipur.
He stated this citing the example of the extension of ‘Disturbed Area’ status in the state which is the precondition for promulgation of AFSPA and followed by the continued militarisation in the state.
also put forward the idea whether Instrument of Accession which was signed before independence can also be an instrument of resolving the present conflict of the state.
Source: Imphal Free Press
