SIPHRO

S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, May 29, 2006: Taking strong exception against the Rajkhowa Commission’s acceptance of Human Rights Alert (HRA) appeal for cross-examination of victims of the alleged mass rape of Hmar women at Parbung and Lungthulien, Hmar Women Association, through a press statement issued today questioned the integrity, motive and intention behind such an exercise.

“We regard the decision of the Rajkhowa Commission as another attempt to rape the victims, this time by the very same authorities who should have given them protection in the first place” charged the release.

“The victims have already been through the worst possible nightmare and now the authorities are asking them to come to the district headquarters after having made them undergo the full process of cross examination by the State appointed Commission, thereby making a mockery of itself.

Enough is enough,” it added.

Acknowledging that four months have passed and the victims have neither been given any compensation nor medical assistance or counseling the statement alleged that these should have been the first steps any self respecting Government should have taken.

“Howsoever flawed the Commission’s decision is in our opinion” said the release and added that it has accept the decision to allow cross-examination of the rape victims as long as the process of cross-examination is conducted at Parbung and Lungthulien.

Unless the aim of the authority is to totally break down the already traumatized victims, the decision ordering victims to come to the district headquarters should be immediately withdrawn, demanded the women’s body and argued, “if the State Home Department has opined that the area is safe enough with the presence of security personnel, surely the HRA functionaries can be asked to conduct their cross-examination, if necessary, where the rapes took place.” Another statement of the association also come down heavily on Babloo Loitongbam, Executive Director, Human Rights Alert for allegedly insisting on cross-examination of the rape victims to the extend of even branding him as traitor and a Brutus.

‘Has not Loitongbam got all the detail information he required when he went there and met them? What is the need to cross-examine them with the sole intention of negating the truth by a battery of handpicked lawyers?’ questioned the release signed by Hluni, Secretary HWA.

His consoling but hollow words during the HRA visit of Tipaimukh sub-division on March like, ‘Today is one of the saddest day in my life’ or ‘This is the day I feel most ashamed to be a Manipuri’ still rings loud and clear said the statement even as its accuse him of failing to uphold truth and withholding release of his findings for reasons best known to him alone.

The two statements nevertheless maintained that the rape incidents were noticeably truth and maintained that it will continue to fight in their demand for justice and will not rest till they are met, no matter the cost.

Source: The Sangai Express