SIPHRO

Imphal, June 02, 2006: Reacting to the news report “Hmar women against HRA petition”, in which the integrity and motive behind Human Rights Alert (HRA)’s appeal for cross-examination of the victims of the alleged mass rape of Hmar women at Lungthulien and Parbung was questioned, the Human Rights Alert, in a press statement, has clarified that it sees no other way to legally confirm the truth of the issue without a cross examination.

It recounted that all women victims of sexual violence in Manipur in the recent past including Ahanjaobi, Bina, Thoinu, Pramo etc went through the same ordeal of cross-examination before justice could be delivered.

Nevertheless HRA conveyed its understanding of the trauma felt by the victims and concerns of Hmar Women’s Association when they were called to narrate the stories of the crime.

It further recalled the petition filed by HRA to the Manipur Human Rights Commission as early as February 10 this year together with Hmar Students’ Association and Rongmei Lu Phum to institute an inquiry into the displaced Hmar villagers taking refuge in Mizoram, much before the alleged rape of Hmar women was publicised in any form.

Following the non-response of MHRC, the petitioners organised an on-the-spot visit to Mizoram and Tipaimukh sub-division from March 5 to 10, it mentioned.

Executive director of HRA Babloo Loitongbam was an eye witness to an interview conducted by Ms Aram Pamei and Ms Elizabeth Hrangchal of four alleged rape victims at Sakawrdai relief camp, Mizoram on March 7.On the next day, in the house of the Lungthulien village chief, a petition listing 21 Hmar women allegedly raped by UNLF and KCP cadres in the night of January 16 this year at Lungthulien was presented to the visiting team which included Babloo.

Later on the same day, Babloo recorded statements of a Parbung villager on the alleged rape of four other women in the village but another villager sitting next to the first one contended that it was only attempts to rape and not rape as such.

After some discussion in Hmar dialect, he was asked to record them as attempts to rape, conveyed the statement.

According to the HRA statement, the evidence available till date is not sufficient to establish the facts of the matter concerning the rape of 25 (not 21) beyond reasonable doubt as alleged by Hmar Women’s’ Association and other organisations.

In conjunction with the commencement of inquiry by the Rajkhowa Commission following the Chief Minister’s declaration to probe into the matter in the State Assembly on March 8, HRA felt that the reports of its visit would be helpful in assisting the official commission established the truth, disclosed the statement.

In line with their thought and taking into account of the relatively marginalised villagers and victims, HRA organised a press conference on March 23 and reported their findings to the public through media, it said.

Reaffirming its commitment to truth and justice, HRA filed an affidavit to the Rajkhowa Commission on April 3 to incorporate its findings.

Thereafter, HRA has been insisting for the due process of law which includes the cross-examination of not only the victims but also the alleged perpetrators and the witnesses, asserted the statement.

Further, it asked whether the uncalled for sharp reaction of the Hmar Women’s Association against the normal judicial procedure and HRA a betrayal of their fear of exposing the ‘real truth’ on the rape issue.

Source: The Sangai Express