Shillong, Rymphang 28: North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) had organized a “One Day Consultation Demanding Independent Investigation on Human Rights Violation Committed by the State Forces Against the Protestors to Protect the Indigenous Peoples” which was held today at Manipur Press Club recently.
North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) appreciate the effort of the BJP government to respect the sentiment and concern of the people in North East India and uphold the Citizen Amendment Bill to be passed on 12 February 2019.
Since November 2018, the indigenous people in North Eastern states of India have been protesting against the Citizen Amendment Bill 2019 under the leadership of North East Student Organization (NESO) and various CSOs in the region. Unfortunately, Government of India had less concern to the demand of the NESO and people in the region. Therefore, NESO decided to call total shutdown in the region with the support of the people on 8 January 2019 against the CAB. On the same day Lok Sabha of Indian parliament passed the bill.
Tripura State Rifle (mainly Bengali personnel) fired indiscriminately to the young protesters leading to serious injury to 12 protestors on the 8th of January. The police along with the Bengali speaking representatives jointly block the vehicles which were carrying the injured people to reach to the hospital.
NEDF suspected that the security forces were with the intension to kill the indigenous people who were protesting against CAB. Many leaders of the Indigenous people were threatened to be killed, to rape their sisters and mothers by unknown people. Such an act of the state is the violation right of the schedule Tribe under the Schedule Tribe and Schedule Caste Atrocity Act.
Many protesters in Assam were beaten up, harassed and more than 200 anti CAB protestors were arrested under the charge of sedition. There has been a report on the attack to the Indigenous People by the non-indigenous people who supports the CAB, 2016.
On the 10th of February, six people were injured after police fired teargas shells and mock bombs on market vendors of a women market in Imphal. The women had blocked the road and demanded the withdrawal of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, in support to the “one road indefinite mass agitation” of the Manipur Peoples Against Citizenship Amendment Bill (MANPAC). The police then resorted to firing teargas shells and using mock bombs to disperse them, which resulted in 6 sustaining injuries.
Now the question is all about the freedom of association and Assembly guaranteed by the constitution of India and a violation of the mandate of Special Rapporteur on the freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
Further India has the International Legal obligation to respect the International Covenant on Civil and political Right of the United Nations. The attacked to the mothers is also clear indicator of violence against women. It is also violation of the UN guideline of Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women its causes and consequences.
We are deeply shocked to hear that 4 protesters were shot and killed by the police, Para military forces and Army in the two days (23-24 February 2019) in Arunachal Pradesh. The protest was against the Policy of the Arunachal Govt to issue Permanent Resistant Certificate to the non-locals.
The issue was place in the assembly on 22 February 2019. People in Arunachal Pradesh turned into violent. The Government called upon the army to control the protesters. On the 24th of February there were 500 rounds of bullets fired but it is difficult to distinguish who fired the bullets either by police or Army.
With reference to the UN Declaration of Rights of the Indigenous People (2007), we urge to Government of India to insure the Free Prior Informed Consent of the Indigenous people in regards to use of our land and territories for other purposes apart from the customary practices. Such kind of responses of passing new legislations like AFSPA and responses of security forces are the violation of the UN Committee of Racial Discrimination.
The NEDF appeal the Prime Minister of India to establish an Independent Commission, Chaired by a retired Justice of the High Court or Supreme Court of India to investigate against the serious human right violation committed by the state forces.
The NEDF urge the Government of India and government in the North Eastern states to insure the protection of Rights of the Indigenous and tribal people for their safe guard measures insure in the constitution of India and International Covenant on Civil and Political Right of the UN.Urge the Govt of India to organize the free, prior, Informed Consent of the people before passing any Bill.
The Govt of India to invite the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association, Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial Execution and Special Rapporteur on Violence Against women in all the north eastern states of India specially to Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
The GoI to lobby with the Government of Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan to formulate new legislations, strategic guide line or guiding principle, new development and human right schemes for the safe guard of the Hindu and other minorities. Govt of India is also requested to communicate with the Special Procedure on Minority of the UN to get the technical Assistance for the protection of Minorities in those countries.
Urge the Government of India to communicate to those countries through UN to create more awareness among the majority Muslim community to protect the minorities. Urge the Govt of India to insure the protection of civilians from execution, rape, involuntary disappearance, torture etc under the AFSPA in the North East India and repeal of AFSPA. Said Mr U Nobokishore Convener of theNEDF.
