Imphal, August 24, 2006: The Women Action for Development, WAD, has clarified that it is not involved in any manner in the poster campaign which has been taken up by unidentified persons in some parts of the state, targeting a prominent underground group.
Speaking to mediapersons in this connection, M Sobita, secretary of the NGO said a photograph of a mass rally organised by the WAD in association with other NGOs in November 2005 was found to have been used in the poster and clarified that the photograph has been used without its knowledge or consent.
The poster, which has apparently appeared in large numbers in the periphery and outskirts of the valley areas, targets the United National Liberation Front, highlighting among others the alleged rape by UNLF cadres of Hmar girls in the Parbung area of Churachandpur district.
Clarifying further, M Sobita said the photograph in question was of a mass rally organised on November 30, 2005 as part of the observation of the International Fortnight protesting violence against women. The WAD had never organised a mass rally targeting any armed group, she clarified.
Source: The Imphal Free Press