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SOBHAPATI SAMOM | IMPHAL, May 6 – A three day convention of people affected by the ongoing slow- intensity conflict and narcotic drugs has urged both the State and non-State forces to immediately cease the trend of exploding bombs and placing landmines in inhabited areas.
According to Ginkholal Touthang, Secretary of the Association of Landmine Survivors, many inhabitants of villages located under Khengjoi Block in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar have been killed in landmine explosions while many others have been maimed for life. Since 2001, more than 40 villagers have been killed in such landmine explosions.
A landmine victim and housewife Tilhat of Molcham village said, “We don’t want luxurious houses nor trendy cars, but we yearn for peace where there is no fear of landmines”. Her children refused to go back to their village saying that bombs might blow up and gun fights might break out.
Urging that the government should act immediately to check the proliferation of small arms and ammunition in Manipur and the North East, the gathering of Peoples’ Platform Secretariat in collaboration with different organizations from nine districts also reminded the government to immediately initiate peace talks with non-State actors/insurgent groups by removing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and spur development.
The common people here are caught in the crossfire between the State and non-State forces since the last six decades. As a result, there have been frequent killings. Besides, the basic facilities of the common people such as food,water,road, electricity and healthcare are still denied.
The convention which came out with a ten point charter of demands on its concluding day on Sunday said, “There are a large number of women in the State who have been widowed after their husbands were killed by gunmen – both State and non-State as well as those widowed in bomb blasts, landmine and by HIV/AIDS.
The number of widows is rising rapidly in the face of the daily killings that are continuing unabated in Manipur. Around 61 persons were reported killed in the ongoing conflict in Manipur last month.
Source: THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
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According to Ginkholal Touthang, Secretary of the Association of Landmine Survivors, many inhabitants of villages located under Khengjoi Block in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar have been killed in landmine explosions while many others have been maimed for life. Since 2001, more than 40 villagers have been killed in such landmine explosions.
A landmine victim and housewife Tilhat of Molcham village said, “We don’t want luxurious houses nor trendy cars, but we yearn for peace where there is no fear of landmines”. Her children refused to go back to their village saying that bombs might blow up and gun fights might break out.
Urging that the government should act immediately to check the proliferation of small arms and ammunition in Manipur and the North East, the gathering of Peoples’ Platform Secretariat in collaboration with different organizations from nine districts also reminded the government to immediately initiate peace talks with non-State actors/insurgent groups by removing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and spur development.
The common people here are caught in the crossfire between the State and non-State forces since the last six decades. As a result, there have been frequent killings. Besides, the basic facilities of the common people such as food,water,road, electricity and healthcare are still denied.
The convention which came out with a ten point charter of demands on its concluding day on Sunday said, “There are a large number of women in the State who have been widowed after their husbands were killed by gunmen – both State and non-State as well as those widowed in bomb blasts, landmine and by HIV/AIDS.
The number of widows is rising rapidly in the face of the daily killings that are continuing unabated in Manipur. Around 61 persons were reported killed in the ongoing conflict in Manipur last month.
Source: THE ASSAM TRIBUNE
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