SIPHRO

Imphal, March 25, 2006: Threatened Indigenous People’s Society (TIPS), Manipur has categorically stated that initiative taken by it for setting up a fact finding team to investigate allegation of mass rape of Hmar women in Lungthulian village by underground activists is just to establish the truth and nothing more.

In a statement, TIPS general secretary Leitanthem Umakanta Meitei wondered why any organisation should object to finding out the truth of the matter.

TIPS is a organisation working to uphold rights of the people and would always stand firm against any act of human rights violation whether it is committed by security forces or underground activists, the statement said.

If at all the crime had been committed by the underground activists, then it should be considered as a golden opportunity to let them know that people cannot tolerate such inhumane act, instead of brushing it aside, TIPS observed.

Emphasising on need to probe into the allegation in an impartial manner, the general secretary pointed out that apart from the fact that report of the rape had been filed after a gap of two months, there is still lot of rooms for doubt and discrepancies on the actual number of rape victims as well as on the claims made by some of the organisations.

Moreover, Since Parbung is a part of Manipur and the people living there are Manipuris, it is essential that all people should work together to find out the truth of the matter.

An impartial investigation into the allegation is the interest of maintaining communal harmony, TIPS said while asking whether the organisations which are opposed to the fact finding team are ready to take the responsibility in the event of communal flare up due to misunderstanding among the people.

Source: The Sangai Express