Press Release Of The Hmar Women Association, Gen Hqrs

As we all know, more than 21 young girls and women were mass raped and molested in January, 2006 by armed UNLF and KCP militants at Lungthulien, Parbung and adjoining villages of Tipaimukh sub-division in Manipur. After persistent calls by civil society groups to probe the mass rape, the state government of Manipur constituted an independent Judicial Inquiry Commission to be headed by Retired Justice Rajkhowa on March 13, 2006, and to submit the probe’s report by May 17, 2006. Justice Rajkhowa went to the affected villages in Tipaimukh sub-division and recorded the statements and testimonies of the rape victims, from April 21 to 24, 2006. The commission also made an on the spot visit of the inhuman crime scenes. The commission is yet to furnish and submit its report even after two months have lapped since its enquiry. For reasons best known to them alone, two civil society organisations namely Human Rights Alert (HRA) and Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) of Imphal demanded the right to cross-examine the Tipaimukh rape victims all over again. The Rajkhowa Commission conceded to their demands and thereby putting the innocent and poor victims to go through another trial and tribulation. The Hmar Women Association do not understand the motives and intentions of these two supposedly human rights bodies. As women folk, we fail to understand why these two bodies would like to satisfy themselves in facilitating for the continued torture and exposure of the poor girls who have suffered enough. We also feel that the Inquiry Commission is doing injustice to the victims by taking a long time to submit its report. Longer extension of time to submit the report means denial of justice and constant harassment of the poor victims mentally, physically and psychologically. As they so wished, HRA and MAFYF will take their sweet time to cross-examine the rape victims during August 21 to 26, 2006. Twenty-eight (28) girls and women who had given their testimonies to the Rajkhowa Commission during his previous visit are now ready to stand before the hostile so-called human rights bodies and their crafty lawyers to tell them the truth and the great pains they are going through to this day. In connection with this state of affairs, we fervently appeal all right thinking citizens, women, youth and students organisations to show solidarity with our raped and molested sisters and daughters. We request all Church and denominations to have ‘mass prayer session’ on August 20, 2006 (night service) specifically for these unfortunate girls and women so that God gives them the strength and courage to go through in recounting and recollecting the ordeal and nightmare they went through without fear and prejudice. We also request all individual families to observe a ‘28 minute black out’ (light off) on the night of August 21, 2006 to show solidarity to the 28 girls who will be cross-

examined. Issued on behalf of the Hmar Women Association, General Headquarters by (J.L. Sawmi) President (D. Vary) Secretary Dated: August 12, 2006 [2007 HRO Archive]