New Delhi, April 4, 2006: Braving the blistering April sun, hundreds of people from Manipur held a protest rally in Delhi today to condemn the alleged mass rape of Hmar women in Tipaimukh and the planting of landmines by underground militants in Churachandpur district.
The rally was jointly organised by six Zo-based tribal student organisations in Delhi under the initiative of Hmar Students Association, Delhi.
The rallysts, who the organisers claim numbered more than 1000, held placards denouncing the non- tribal underground groups for their acts and the Manipur Government for its total inaction.
They shouted slogans like ‘Ibobi Singh-Shame Shame’; ‘Rapists-Animals’; ‘Marginalised in Manipur-Yes We are’; ‘We want-Separate Administration’; ‘Only Solution-UT’; ‘Central Government-Help Us’ etc.
A meeting was held at the end of the rally at Parliament Street where, apart from presidents of the six organising student bodies in Delhi, representatives from Naga Students Association, Delhi, Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights and All India Students Association spoke.
Ms JL Sawmi, President of the Hmar Women Association, gave a report of her recent visit to Tipaimukh area and the terror being wrought there in graphic details.
In a Joint Declaration issued on the occasion and later submitted to the PMO and Union Home Ministry, presidents of Delhi Mizo Zirlai Pawl, Hmar Students Association, Delhi; Khangthah Zuun Pawl, Delhi; Siamsinpawlpi, Del-hi; Zillai, Delhi and Zomi Sangnaupang Pawlpi, Delhi condemned the massive violations of human rights by non-tribal UGs in Churachandpur district.
They condemned the alleged mass rape of 21 Hmar women and girls by non-tribal UG groups and the ‘pathetic attempts made by these outfits to deny their crime’.
They demanded that the Judicial Inquiry Commission instituted by the State Government on the rape case be headquartered in Tipaimukh and the case of Naobi Chanu Devi molestation be de-linked from the rape case. They also demanded that the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Women be involved in the probe.
The Joint Declaration also welcomed and endorsed the Agreement, Declaration, Demand and Pledge undertaken at the Mourning Day, January 7, 2006 in Churachandpur. A copy of the Mourning Day declaration was also attached with the Joint Declaration today. The rally ended with a mock show staged by the Hmar Students Association in which the nexus between the underground militants and Manipur State Government was highlighted.
Armed men bearing the name of the two non-tribal UG groups were let loose on girls and the armed men were later seen bowing to a figure bearing ‘O Ibobi Singh’. In the end, the effigy of the Manipur CM was consigned to flames amid pelting of stones and throwing of water bottles. Meanwhile Naga Students’ Union, Delhi while condemning the alleged mass rape expressed shock over the incident.
In a separate statement the union condemned the act against the innocent tribal in Manipur adding that are many questions to be answered by these armed groups in Manipur. It said that the act is a threat not only to the victims but also to all women of dignity and virtue. Moreover, “we fail to understand as to why these undisciplined cadres have to target young women and girl child� added NSUD.
Source: The Sangai Express