IT News
Imphal, June 4:
The Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights in Manipur (CSCHR) has submitted a detailed report to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, highlighting severe human rights violations in the Indian state of Manipur. This report is part of the review process for India’s compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Manipur, located on the Indo-Myanmar border, has been experiencing a prolonged non-international armed conflict since the 1950s. The region is predominantly inhabited by indigenous Meitei, Naga, and Zo-Kuki communities. Despite constitutional guarantees, the people of Manipur have faced significant restrictions on their fundamental rights and freedoms. The CSCHR report emphasizes that local civil society members, journalists, and human rights defenders frequently encounter false accusations and preventive detentions under draconian laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958 (AFSPA).
The CSCHR report criticizes India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and state-level human rights bodies for their ineffectiveness in addressing these violations. The NHRC’s lack of autonomy and insufficient resources have hindered its ability to investigate abuses committed by security forces. International treaties ratified by India remain non-self-executing, further complicating the enforcement of human rights protections.
The report also highlights a history of extrajudicial executions in Manipur. A Supreme Court case filed in 2012 by the Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association Manipur (EEVFAM) brought attention to 1,528 such cases between 1979 and 2012. Although some investigations and prosecutions have commenced, significant challenges remain, including threats and harassment of victims’ families.
Furthermore, the CSCHR calls for the repeal of AFSPA and other repressive laws, advocating for political solutions to address the region’s complex issues. The report urges the Indian government to honor its international obligations and take concrete steps to improve the human rights situation in Manipur.
