Plight of women in conflict situation deliberated

Imphal, April 26: A direct consultation programme with the victimised women due to armed conflict situation in Manipur to understand their plight and problems was held today at Hotel Nirmala.The consultation programme also incorporated the world wide campaign on Arms Trade Treaty aimed at checking illegal trade in arms and weapons.

The consultation programme organised by the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network was graced by former member of Manipur Human Rights Commission Yambem Laba.On account of the armed conflict situation in Manipur, violence of all sorts including killings, intimidations etc are being perpetrated by many elements.At present, about 30 different armed groups are operating in the State.On the other side about 40 battalions of security forces have been deployed in Manipur where the infamous Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 is being enforced except for the seven Assembly segments under Imphal Municipal Council.Consequent upon the alarming increase in youths taking up arms and the disturbing trend of wielding weapons at the slightest pretext, many Manipuri women have been widowed and many of their children thrown into the jaws of death prematurely.The plight and misery of a woman whose husband has been killed or maimed for life due to the armed conflict situation is unfathomable.
The mental distress and economic woes of family women when their men who used to shoulder the greater responsibility of their families have suddenly fallen victims to the armed conflict situation is endless.

In fact, it has become a daily affair in Manipur for security forces to kill insurgents and the insurgents to target security personnel.Moreover, there has been reports of frequent shoot-outs and killings among UG groups.In many cases, both the weapons of the security forces and insurgents were trained at civilians.Under such circumstances, one woman or another lose her children or husband everyday thereby terminating the means of livelihood of the entire family.This in turn jeopardise the future of the children of the family.

The Manipuri Women Gun Survivors’ Network established in 2004 has been striving to understand and document the woeful stories of such victimised women, said its founder member Binalakshmi Nepram.Taking strong exception to many countries taking to arms trade as a major source of earning revenue, Binalakshmi observed that the number of youths taking up arms without licence has shot up alarmingly resulting in quantum rise in armed violence.After signing the Arms Trade Treaty, the Network has been joining the campaign to check uncontrolled manufacture and illegal trade in weapons in different places of the world, she said.Speaking on the occasion, editor of daily the Aza , Valley Rose remarked that the people of Manipur have been strongly resenting the attitude of the both the State Government and the NSCN (IM).

The people no longer have any faith in both the parties that they would deliver justice in the murder case of Senapati kids.She cautioned that if the insurgent groups rather than working for people’s welfare and truth, continue to go against the wish of the people, they will be only adding fuel to the fury of the people.There may come a time when the people would stand up against the UG groups.To avoid such a situation, the UG groups need to make a thorough introspection and rectify their attitude, Valley Rose noted.Dr RK Lenin observed that the prevailing violence in the society have resulted in many people suffering from mental distress.

The programme was also addressed by Taruni of Nupi Samaj, Sitara Begum, editor of the Imphal Free Press Pradip Phanjoubam and staffer Akoijam Sunita.