SIPHRO

David Buhril

The Hmar Women Association (HWA) submitted a memorandum to Sonia Gandhi who was recently campaigning in Churachandpur district. In the memorandum, the HWA presented “the plights of Hmar tribal women in Tipaimukh sub-division of Churachandpur, Manipur who were raped and molested by the outlawed cadres of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) during January 2006.”

The HWA memorandum also highlighted the plights of the displaced villagers of Tipaimukh as well as the landmine victims. The memorandum said that despite the investigation made into the serious rape case by the Rajkhowa Commission, the report was not made public till today. The HWA said that it is shocked and surprised over the continued apathy of the Government of Manipur to the victims of the mass rape. “The cold and silent attitude adopted by the government has resulted in the deprivation of justice”, the memorandum said.

JL Sawmi, President of HWA said, “The 27 molested and raped victims who testified before the Rajkhowa Commission were promised by the Manipur government an amount of one lakh rupees on interim measures. The promise was made before the election. CM Ibobi Singh had written to the Election Commission of India in this matter. At least something ought to be done for the rape victims who are still undergoing all the pains and shame. We won’t stop until our demands are fulfilled.”

“One year after the rape incident, the Government of Manipur has done nothing towards rehabilitating and redressing the sufferings of the rape victims. The response and attitude of the Government of Manipur affirm that it is colluding with the militants in its governance”, the memorandum further said.

The memorandum stated, “The biased approach adopted by the Government of Manipur is a threat to the interest of peace, justice and peaceful co-existence in a multi-ethnic state like Manipur. The attitude of the authorities is a humiliation to the rape victims and a betrayal of justice.”

The HWA, in its pursuit for an effective working policy to redress the plights of the rape victims, made several demands to Sonia Gandhi, which are:

The report of the Rajkhowa Commission is made public immediately, the Government of Manipur should immediately organize a counselling and trauma camp for the rape victims as well as the sexually assaulted girls and women of Tipaimukh, the Government of Manipur provides financial assistance to the rape victims, an amount of five lakh rupees to each victim, the Government of Manipur provides necessary training facilities for the rape victims so as to enable them to start a new life,the Government of Manipur should be responsible and sensitive to the plights of its citizens and should protect and safeguard the rights and dignity of women.

They also asked for additional compensation and relief amounting to ten thousand rupees and six months ration to the displaced Tipaimukh villagers.