SIPHRO

David Buhril

The fear ridden Lungthulien Hmar villagers who fled to Mizoram seeking for refuge has more stories that have been hidden out of fear and shame. However, the truth cannot be hidden for long. The village elders met members of Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO) who are raising the issues at different levels. The incident was also reported to North East Sun with a copy of its submission made to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and National Commison for Women, New Delhi.

The valley based militants who were occupying and controlling the Hmar villages in Tipaimukh Sub-division of Churachandpur, Manipur has once again gone beyond their reasonable human nature by raping ten innocent girls from Lungthulien village on the 16th January 2006. Kawli d/o Sawma who is presently struggling to overcome the pain of being raped told Lalthansang Pulamte, the Asst Secretary of the Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organisation (SIPHRO) in Sakawrdai, Mizoram where they are presently living as refugees, that “ I and my friends were forcibly raped by the gun totting militants who had inflicted unimaginable harm to our life. This will always be the biggest scar of my life.” Kawli further told SIPHRO, “What has happened has happened. We thought we should hide and be silent about it. However, after sharing the pain and miseries with the other victims and family members, we realise that we must speak out to tell the world how badly we were treated. Our pains won’t heal by hiding them. It won’t heal by itself too. We are not going to be silent as they expected us to be. They cannot leave us just like that. Something should be done, but I don’t know what.”

The valley-based militants who have been reigning the place in terror have generated unimaginable chapters of miseries over miseries for the innocent villagers. They started with the annexation and occupation and collected tax from the poor farmers and proceeded further by planting landmines, maiming and killing the villagers and their treasured cattles. Besides, they have been victims of beatings and working as porters for transporting their materials. Finally, as the reign of terror escalates and their security being threatened with the fear of shoot out between the militants and the advancing Indian army, thousands of Hmar villagers were displaced to Mizoram as refugees. The evil hands that designed the ongoing pogrom did not spare the children who were killed and maimed to unthinkable degree. Lately, the innocent victims were young women whose innocence were mercilessly ripped and raped by the militants. Hrietei d/o Zieka told SIPHRO, “What can be more humiliating and contemptuous than the fact that you were robbed and raped of your virginity.” She said, “I have truly lost the value of being a woman and a human being. I am not ashamed. But I am too much in pain.” Hniengpui, another rape victim, said that, “ It took lots of courage to be a rape victim. The pain is too much that I almost forget I am a refugee too. Who do you think will be able to erase this dark experience from our minds? But we are praying to God.”

It was only after reaching Mizoram that they could regain the courage to spill out the rape story. Lalthansang Pulamte, Asst Secretary of SIPHRO said, “There was no way these raped victims could file for FIR. To reach the police station in Churachandpur town, it will take them some five or six days. Besides in such a situation, it was impossible to think about filing FIR. It was very natural for them, rather to take the step they took.”

Dr. John Pulamte, President of the Hmar Students Association, General Headquarters said that “The HSA will be raising the issue of this inhuman atrocities by taking it to the required highest level of the authorities. This has gone beyond the limit.” SIPHRO Secretary, Lalremlien Neitham said that SIPHRO is moving NHRC as well as the National Commission for Women to addressed the important issue and come to the aid of the rape victims.

Courtesy: North East Sun, February, 2006.