On the arrests of peace activists in Manipur

( September 21, New Delhi, Sri lanka Guardian) The North East People’s initiatives strongly condemns the arrest of Mr. Jiten Yumnam, an environmental activist, and office bearers of All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) on September 14th 2009 in Imphal. We learn that they have been booked under laws pertaining to ‘waging war against the government’ of India and under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,Dr Sukhendu Debbarma said in a statement.

According to the statement, "this kind of crack down on human rights, peace and environmental activists in Manipur has come at a time when the government has utterly failed to contain its trigger-happy police and the security forces. The atmosphere of lawlessness of the police and the security forces took a worse turn with the killing of Chungkham Sanjit in an open market area of Imphal town on 23rd July by the Manipur Police Commandos. The shoot out also led to the killing of a passer-by, Ms. Rubina Devi. The Manipur government, instead of acting against its Commandos in an urgent manner, has tried to stifle voices of protests against the killing of Mr. Sanjit. Earlier, in August, five functionaries of Apunba Lup, the umbrella Forum of civil society organizations in Manipur were arrested under National Security Act by the Manipur government."

"The encounter killing of Mr. Sanjit and the attempts of the Manipur government to silence voices of protests against the lawlessness of its police is highly deplorable. The state, increasingly, seems to be sliding into a lawlessness that benefits the police and the ruling elites in the state while putting ordinary people to untold misery."

"North East People’s Initiatives demands an immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Jiten and all the office bearers of AMUCO and an urgent an impartial inquiry into all other similar arrests and encounter killings in Manipur. We also demand an immediate disbanding of the Manipur Police Commandos who have been given impunity in all the crimes they have committed against the people of Manipur. Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which is the fountain head of the culture of impunity among the police and the security forces in the North-east should be repealed immediately."

-Sri Lanka Guardian