During the session held on April 18, CRAM Secretary Jiten Yumnam, intervening under agenda item 5(a) drew the attention of UNPFII on the persisting conflict situation in Manipur and urged to ensure the fundamental rights and and security of the indigenous people of the state, stated a release on Tuesday.

He also raised concern about the prolonged enforcement of emergency legislation, viz, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 as part of India’s militaristic responses to self-determination movement, has been associated with intense militarization and human rights violations, viz extra judicial execution in Manipur, it asserted.

He stated that the aftermath of conflict between two major communities since May 3, 2023 has intensified militarization in Manipur and related human rights violations, it said. He noted that several women and youths are allegedly subjected to arbitrary detention, physical assaults etc. besides loss of lives, adding that displaced victims of the conflict continue to languish with inadequate rehabilitation, resettlement and vital survival support.

He urged UNPFII to recommend the Government of India to take urgent steps to stop violence in Manipur, to promote indigenous peace and reconciliation among communities, to urgently rehabilitate and resettle all those displaced by the conflict, to protect the fundamental rights, lives and security of all indigenous people, to stop all human rights violations including criminalization of youths and women and to ensure accountability for all security forces involved in violations, it said.

It also appealed to PFII to recommend for the repeal of the AFSPA, 1958 enforced in Manipur as recommended by UN human rights bodies, to stop militarization and rights violations as well as to resolve the armed conflict in Manipur with recognition of indigenous self-determination rights as per UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights and other international laws.