Greetings from Manipur.
On the seventh day of the ongoing training of trainers on testimonial therapy for psychological well being of survivors of torture and organized violence ( Sunday the 17th August) organized by Wide Angle,PVCHR and Danish oorganization RCT, Mr. Montu led us to an infamous tourist spot the Loktak lake. The Loktak lake is covering an area of approximately 286 sq.kms at 768.5 m above mean sea level. It sparkles on the southern part of the Manipur basin, some 45 Km away from the capital City, is the largest natural lake in eastern India and also a depository of the cultural history of the indigenous people of Manipur. Besides the Keibul Lamjao, the floating sanctuary of the Sangai deer (Brow Antlered Deers) which is only found here in the world, is an integral part of this wetland.
We reached at Thangga hillock at 11 A.M, from where we could capture the enchanting view of the lake and Karang island which is encircled by water from four directions. Our local guide gave us a warm reception, we parked our vehicles there and kicked off for Karang the secluded hillock island. We hired a motor boat in place of wooden canoes, as the strong gust of wind was found unfriendly for canoeing.
While traveling on the boat, we were thrilled to see those daring men and women who were busy in fishing with net and fishing rods while sitting on their canoes, encountering the dazzling violent waves. The swampy "phumdis" (the floating mats of vegetation) were scattering around the lake and numerous thatched huts were seen built on the floating phumdees. The two villages of Loktak lake Karang and Thangga, are inhabited by indigenous Meiteis, having a population of around 20,000. The main occupation of the villagers is fishing. These peace loving villagers have bore the brunt of armed conflict and they went through at least two military operations that took place in 2006 and 2009, conducted by army to flush out the insurgents sheltering in the floating huts. During the both operations ten of dozens of poor villagers including women and children were subjected to force labour, arbitrary arrest, tortured and many villagers became victims of internally displacement.
Please see the given below linkage of the letter sent to the Prime Minister of India for the racists attacks on the Manipurians.
http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2009/04/racist-attack-on-manipurians.html
Incidentally, the agony of the villagers was exposed again following the arbitrarily detention and harassment of four innocent young boys by Indian para military forces (Assam Rifles posted at one Ningthoukhong village some 8 Km away from Karang island) on the same they we landed at the island. The distressing news was conveyed to us by few elderly women at the very moment we were about to leave the island at 12.30 P.M . On hearing the shocked news we took a quick testimony of the elderly women including the mothers of the ill-fated boys, instantly I contacted your office through Mr. Kanishka Singh on mobile and pursued for safe release of the innocent youths. Fortunately enough, our mission succeeded and four boys were released without much delay. The news of safe release of their children brought a sigh of relief and smile in the vexed faces of local women, who were deeply brooding over the uncertain fate of their children.Mothers thanks to your office for the quick release of their sons. The apprehension and angst wrote large in their faces spoke a volume about the fake encounter killings perpetrated by state actors that has already claimed many innocent lives in recent times. This is being a common phobia engulfed the psyche of every mother whose son has been picked up by security personnel in the state. Please refer to the given below to :
http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2009/08/open-letter-in-matter-of-manipur_02.html
Details of Children who were saved from the hands of the security personnel were:
- Salam James so of Jhulon Singh Age 19 years, reading in Class XI
- Haobijam Nanao (Bobi) son of H. Kwaklei, age 21 years
- Oinam Somorjit Singh, age 18 years son of O. Sanaton Singh
- Master Nongthoujam Somarjit Singh, age 11 years son of Lukhoi Singh
It was revealed that the innocent young boys were their way to collect some materials like sands for smearing the bamboo made wall of a house with mud which is under preparation for a proposed marriage ceremony.
In the second week of the workshop, participants will take the real testimony of the survivors of torture and organized violence and we will let you with the self suffering of the TOV survivors.
1) Encourage the Government of India to immediately withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958;
2) Suggest the government to constitute an independent agency to investigate and prosecute cases of human rights violations committed by the state agencies in Manipur;
3) Recommend the government to implement the recommendations made by the Justice B. P. Jeevan Reddy Commission submitted to the government in 2005;
With Kind regards,
Dr. Lenin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bmGFulRG6I--
Dr. Lenin
Ashoka Fellow
2007 Gwanju Human Rights Awardee
Convenor-PVCHR
Mobile:+91-9935599333
Please visit:
http://www.universalrights.net/heroes/display.php3?id=101
www.pvchr.org
www.youtube.com/pvchrindia
www.pvchr.blogspot.com
www.sapf.blogspot.com
www.antiwto.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.lenin-shruti.blogspot.com
My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not see how we can loose our battle.. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality….
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." (Desmond Tutu)
