All Women’s Association, Churachandpur District, Manipur
Press Statement
As we all are aware, between November 2005 and February 2006 the Tipaimukh sub-division had been occupied by the valley armed groups. Apart from collecting tax in cash and kind, physical torture and planting landmines, many untold atrocities have been committed by the said armed groups on the poor tribal villagers. But the worst and ugliest of all is the atrocities committed on the women. Undeniably, individual and gang rape was committed on helpless women and girls of which some of them are only thirteen years old.
This heinous crime is committed with such impunity that the victims feel guilty and get into denial syndrome. Fear of reprisal from the perpetrators and stigmatization of being violated girls in the society discourage them from reporting and seeking justice. Some victims who are desperate of medical attention were the ones who started approaching the NGOs. Even now, only few are courageous and detaermined enough to give their statements of their horrible ordeal and face a camera. Timely intervention of the NGOs in giving what little medical attention and counseling gave some consolation to the victim’s confidence and lives too.
The All Women’s Associations, Churachandpur district condemned these atrocities in the strongest term and at the same time express our heart felt sorrow for the unfortunate sisters and daughters in the interior of Churachandpur especially those in the Tipaimukh and Thanlon sub-division. No words can express our hurt and pain. All women organizations and civil society must condemn in the strongest term against these atrocities on women and humanity. We also appeal to all, to support the victims in this critical hour of their needs. Only a handful of them have so far received proper medical examination and trauma counseling.
Coming out of their fear and denial syndrome, twenty-one of the unmarried young determined girls between the ages of thirteen and twenty –four from the villages have come forward to give their names and accounts of their sad ordeal. But unfortunately no married women have come forward at the time of writing this press note. Some accounts of attempted rape had also been reported. Many more sad tales will tumble out of the hearts of the victims. The All Women’s Association, Churachandpur, therefore seeks peoples’ support and appeal to the population of Manipur who still believe in justice – in pursuing justice for the victims and offer help in rehabilitation of our dearest sisters and daughters who passed through the saddest ordeal of their lives.
J.L. Sawmi
President
Hmar Women’s Association
Gen. Hqtrs
Rengkai, Churachandpur.
Mrs. Heshi
President
Kuki Women’s Union.
Tuibung, Churachandpur.
Miss Dimzangai
President
Zomi Mother’s Association.
Lamka, Churachandpur.
C. Nunsangi
Advisor
Mizo People’s Convention(Women’s wing)
Place: Hmar Artist Hall, Rengkai Road, Churachandpur, Manipur
Dated: March 04, 2006