Dimapur, July 24 (MExN): With their long ugly record of fake encounters, human rights’ violations and extra-judicial killings, the Manipur IRB and Police commandoes are not at all welcome in the Naga-dominated hill districts of Manipur. The state government of Manipur has recently decided to deploy more IRB and police commandoes to the hill districts.
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) today reiterated familiar fears about long-term implications and consequences Manipur government’s decision would later bring. The NPMHR reminded that more military personnel will not solve any of the problems faced by the people in the hills. Rather, the Naga organisation said, it will instead result in more human rights violations and the contravention of the rule of law and justice.
‘What the people need are well-thought out strategies and policies that will address root causes of inequality in distribution of resources, strengthen and empower civil societies and citizens, and the exercise of governance that respect and strengthen human rights,’ the statement said.
In a lengthy statement today, the NPMHR recalled the many incidents of grave violations of human rights perpetrated by state military forces in the guise of maintaining law and order in indigenous territories. However, the NPMHR reminded that the protest against the deployment of IRB and Manipur Police commandos is not a “selective prejudice,” against the force. “NPMHR is against militarization in any form, guise, or pretext. Militarization also nurtures armed conflicts and virulent racism, and also erodes community cohesiveness,” the organization said.
Instead of being a solution, the NPMHR said, militarization has been the root cause of human rights violations in Manipur, as well as in other parts of Northeast India. Under black laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Disturbed Areas Act, National Security Act, the Government of India and state governments have legitimized acts of violence and human rights violations committed by state forces, and has supported and perpetuated a culture of immunity among state forces.
“The impact of militarization is not limited to the physical and emotional security of individuals but has a much wider social, economic, and political implication. While the causes of conflict in the region are diverse, a common denominator is the sense of injustice, inequality, corruption, repression, discrimination and inequity…,” it stated.
Addressing these require understanding which in turn requires the participation of the common people in decision making to respond to the problems they face, the NPMHR stated.
“This implies that developmental programs and policies have to be framed with the participation of people, and the ensuring of accountability and transparency in decision-making. Therefore, the continued reliance of the Government of Manipur on militarization to respond to the problems faced by the people in the hill districts is ill-advised and injudicious,” the organization said in reference to Manipur government’s decision.
Manipur’s IRB and Police
The NPMHR made special mention of Manipur’s IRB and police commandoes: Their role as “peace-keepers” in doubt and one that does not encourage any confidence, the organization stated simply. Manipur’s IRB personnel have been implicated in the recent killing of Prof. Islammudin of Manipur University; IRB and Manipur Police commandos have also been responsible for a number of extra-judicial killings and fake encounters over the years.
“Instead of upholding the law, they themselves are responsible for grave human rights violations…we would like to challenge the (Government of Manipur) as to why a number of innocent non-Manipuris are being killed every other day despite the presence of IRB and Manipur Police Commandos in every nooks and crannies of Imphal? Has their presence reduced the number of criminal incidences in any way and do they brook confidence as effective peace-keepers in the Imphal valley?” the NPMHR queried. “The answer is a resounding ‘no’,” it added.
The NPMHR has demanded from the government of Manipur to withdraw the IRB personnel already sent to Ukhrul and Senapati districts. The state needs to sincerely focus on addressing socio-economic and cultural inequities faced by the people living in the hills, it stated.
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