MHRC wants review of disturbed area status

Imphal, April 24: Manipur Human Rights Commission member Y Laba has suggested to the O Ibobi Government to seriously consider the reviewing of the Disturbed Areas Act now in force in the State. In his letter sent today, Laba recalled the Armed Forces (Assam and Manipur) Special Powers Act was first passed in Parliament in 1958 for implementation to the then undivided State of Assam and Manipur. "This means that Manipur has been considered "disturbed" as early as 1958 barely nine years after the country became independent", he pointed out. Stating that more and more areas of the NE region have been classified as disturbed, he said this saw an increasing dependence on use of armed forces including army, Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF etc. to aid the civil authorities but at the cost of the civil liberties of the citizens. Maintaining that the State of Manipur was considered to be disturbed since 1980 till date, the MHRC member also said that the State continues to be disturbed for the past 40 years and even increasing militarization had taken place. It should he clear that the continued dependence on the armed forces for such a long time, something which has no parallel in other parts of the country or even in neighboring Pakistan, has not produced the desired results. Instead it has started generating negative effects, the most harmful being the psychology of the disturbed mind, affecting the entire population of Manipur, he said. The letter also apprised the Chief Minister that he (CM) is aware that his Government is now required by law to assess whether Manipur requires to be still branded as a disturbed area following the directives of the Supreme Court made in 1998. Considering all these points, Laba suggested to the Chief Minister that his Government should seriously consider reviewing the disturbed areas status at the earliest from the entire State. This can be taken as a recommendation also, Laba said. He further stated while there can be no compromise on the safety and security of the State; it is felt that existing State forces and laws are competent enough to handle any threat. The Human Rights Alert executive director Babloo Loitongbam has also submitted a memorandum mentioning similar points demanding the revocation of the Disturbed Areas status from Manipur.