Hong Kong: The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has condemned the “violent attacks” on the Rengma Nagas in Karbi Anglong and called upon the Governor of Assam to “initiate an investigation and hold the perpetrators – no matter which ethnic group they belong to – accountable for the multiple acts of killings, torture, and restrictions on freedom.” The AHRC has also urged the Assam government to “ensure adequate compensation and rehabilitation of those displaced.” It called for both the government of Assam and the Union government to “ensure justice, relief, rehabilitation and equal compensation for Rengma and Karbi victims and survivors.”
This was mentioned in a statement released from the AHRC headquarters today, calling for an end to conflict-induced displacement in Assam. It noted that if the government of Assam and the Union of India “ever wish to amend their policy of governance by neglect,” a long term strategy for conflict resolution among different communities in North East India “might be wise and in the interest of peace and justice.”
The AHRC reminded that December 2013 witnessed “another episode in the history of displacement in Assam” when more than 3,000 people, “a majority belonging to the Rengma Naga tribe, a minority in Karbi Anglong district,” were forcibly displaced following violent conflict and fear. It was reminded that in order to restore peace and normalcy, community based organizations convened a meeting on December 17, 2013 and concluded that in the future anti-social activities would be monitored and respective tribes would hold their members accountable. The meeting had also urged the creation for a police outpost in the area with immediate effect. “The absence of police presence in the area to this date is but an indication of a negligent state,” the Commission stated.
The AHRC mentioned that a memorandum submitted to the Governor of Assam on January 20, 2014, by an independent fact finding mission led by social activists had also observed that “the state government had failed to maintain law and order despite prior intimation regarding impending violence and heightened conflict.” The team had expressed concern about the merging of judicial and executive powers in the district, where the Deputy Commissioner has been handling the law and order situation as well as conducting trails for cases. “This status has raised suspicions regarding the possibility of equitable justice guaranteed by the Constitution since often executives are not trained in law to deliver judicial duties,” the statement said.
Keeping the history of the issue in context, the Commission raised “deep concern” on its observation of the “inactive role of law enforcement agencies in such times of ethnic tension, passivity which displaced itself in the face of repeated and desperate attempts by victims to seek protection.” While iterating the need of “re-establishing security to life and property” with police presence a priority, the AHRC underlined the need for “re-assessment” of the roles of the police and security personnel “so the forces can become accountable and just.”
The AHRC also took into account a memorandum submitted on January 30, 2014, to the Governor of Assam by Rengma Naga organisations alleging that Rengma Nagas have been “systematically sidelined from decision making processes for decades.” The “multiple levels of corruption, economic blockades, disappearances, violations of right to free movement, general police inaction, and extra judicial killings, among other problems” in Karbi Anglong district stated in the memorandum, “if accurate,” raised concern with the AHRC.
Displacement, and even the threat of it, noted the AHRC, affects communities enormously and causes insecurity, both physical and economical. “It has been well documented how displacement increases human trafficking, as displaced women seek income and financial security,” it observed.
