UN writes to India on Tipaimukh, AFSPA Fatimata-Binta Victoire Dab

To,
HE Mr Swashpawan Singh
Ambassador, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Permanent Representative.
Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations Office at Geneva Rue du Valais 9 (6th stage) 1202 Geneve, Fax: 022 906 86 96

Excellency,

You will recall that the Committee on the Elinrination of Racial Discrimina1ion at its 70th session held from 19 February to 9 March 2007, considered the fifteenth to nineteenth periodic reports of India and adopted concluding observations in relation thereto (CERD/CIIND/CO/19).

Pursuant to Article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and Article 65 of the Committee's rules of procedure, as amended, the Committee requested in paragraph 34 of its concluding observations that your Government provide information on the way it has followed up on the recommendations contained in paragraphs 12, 15, 19 and 26 within one year.

To date, the Committee has not received any information from the State party in this respect. On the other hand, the Committee has been made aware of the imminent construction of the Tipaimukh Dam in Manipur, the Lower Subasiri dam in AroncbaI Pradesh and other dams on indigenous territories, allegedly without the free prior informed consent of the affected indigenous communities, resulting in the forced resettlement and endangering of the traditional lifestyles of those communities.

In this regard, the Committee recalls paragraph 19 of its concluding observations, in which it recommended that the State party "seek the prior informed consent of communities affected by the construction of dams in the Northeast or similar projects on their traditional lands in any decision-making processes related to such projects, and provide adequate compensation and alternative land and housing to those communities."

Moreover, the Committee has received information according to which no steps have been taken to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958, as recommended in 2005 by a special Review Committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, or to release the report of the Review Committee.

In the light of this information, the Committee would like to refer to paragraph 12 of its concluding observations, in which it had urged the State party ''to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and to replace it 'by a more humane Act,' in accordance with the recommendations contained in the 2005 report of the above Review Committee."

In the light of the above, and with a view to continuing a constructive dialogue with your Government, the Committee requests the State party to submit comments with respect to the implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 12 and 19 of its concluding observations, in particular with respect to the measures taken by the State party to safeguard the rights of indigenous communities whose territories and traditional lifestyles are threatened by projects such as the Tipaimukh and Lower Subasiri dams, as well as the continued application of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

The Committee also reiterates its request for the State party to provide comments with respect to the implementation of the recommendations contained in paragraphs 15 and 26 of its concluding observations. The Committee wishes to receive such comments no later than 31 December 2008.

Allow me, Excel1ency, to reiterate the Committee's wish to pursue a constructive dialogue with your Government and underline that the Committee's requests for information are made with a view to assisting your Government in the effective implementation of the Convention.

The writer is Chairperson of 1he Committee for the Eliminattion of Racial Discrimination.

Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com

Bomb lobbed at MLA’s residence

S. Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, Sep 14: A Chinese hand grenade exploded on the stairs of Singngat MLA T Hangkhanpao’s private residence here today, after some miscreants apparently in an attempt to intimidate him lobbed it from outside the campus.

“I had just uttered my morning prayers on bed when I heard something buzzing outside, but before I could step off from my bed, a big bang shook the entire building,” sister-in-law of the MLA said.

All six window panes of the sitting room and many flower pots were shattered by the impact of the explosion, but no one was injured as the incident occurred at 5:30 am, when all six occupants were still in bed.

Police personnel who rushed to the site and collected evidence said that a Chinese made hand grenade was used in the attack. “It could be an attempt to intimidate the MLA”, a source said on condition of anonymity.

According to the in-law, Hangkhanpao was in town yesterday for a night-haul but changed his initial plan due to ‘law and order problem’, and returned to Imphal later in the day.

The real intention of the attackers remain a mystery as family members of the MLA have refused comment on the incident. Zomi Students’ Federation meanwhile has questioned the motive behind the attack and condemned it in the strongest term. It must not be repeated, said the student body and urged the Government to be vigilant to avert any recurrences.

Source: The Sangai Express

---------------------------------------


Another VIP attack in Manipur

Imphal, Sept. 14: Militants struck again at a VIP address today, this time at the home of Opposition legislator T. Hangkhanpao in Churachandpur.

No one was injured in the attack.

The rebels lobbed a Chinese hand grenade at the Nehru Marg residence of the National People’s Party MLA at 5.40am, said Churachandpur superintendent of police S. Manglemjao Singh.

The grenade hurled from outside the boundary wall landed on the ground floor verandah of the two-storey building and exploded, shattering a few windowpanes.

The legislator was away when the explosion took place, since he stays at his official residence at VIP colony in Imphal. His relatives were asleep when the rebels attacked.

Hangkhanpao had visited Churachandpur district headquarters only yesterday when attended the launch of a journal in a tribal dialect. But he left the town for Imphal after 5pm. The police could not name any militant group for the attack, but said the rebels may have thrown the grenade thinking that the legislator was still in the house.

Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080915/jsp/northeast/story_9833639.jsp

Ccpur MLA’s residence comes under attack, no casualties

LAMKA, Sep 14: The residence of a sitting MLA in Churachandpur district came under attack from militants who exploded a bomb early Sunday at around 5.45 am.

MLA T Hangkhanpau who was elected from Singhat Assembly constituency in the 2007 Assembly elections was not home at the time of the explosion which according to the police was a China make hand grenade.

He is currently staying at the government quarter at Lamphel in Imphal.

None of the militant groups operating actively in the district have claimed responsibility.

No casualties were reported in the explosion but some flower pots in the front courtyard of the MLA's residence were damaged by the impact of the explosion, police said.

According to the report a person suspected to be a militant hurled the hand grenade from outside the gate of the house located at Nehru Marg in Churachandpur district headquarters.

One of the window panes near the common room having seven shutters and one inside was totally damaged apart from damage to the flower pots. The splinters also hit portions of the wall, barracks of guards and the fencing, the report added.

At the time of the incident six members were at the house with five sleeping at the first floor and one at the ground floor.

Family members who were sound asleep were woken up by the explosion sound, Hatlhing, a member of the house said.

"We were woken up by the sound of explosion but were lucky to learn that no one suffered any injuries," she added.

A police team led by the SP S Manglemjao rushed to the spot and inspected the spot. Troops of the 3 Assam Rifles led by Major Naga also arrived at the spot without any loss of time and took stock of the situation, the report said.


Source: Imphal Free Press