PANJIM: Women’s organisations, rights groups and concerned citizens have written to the President of India Droupadi Murmu appealing to her to direct the subordinate authorities to implement the rule of law and to ensure peace and normalcy in the strife-torn Manipur.
Women’s organisations, rights groups and concerned citizens in the letter have sought President’s condemnation and grief over the egregious instances of sexual violence, ethnic and communal discord and human rights violations in Manipur. They have also sought actions against those responsible from within the State machinery for gross lapses and negligence and collusion and recognised by the Supreme Court.
In the letter they have asked for preventive measures against the pattern of weaponising women’s bodies to instigate community violence and subjugate minority and to initiate measures to ensure justice including conversions of zero FIRs, speedy FIRs, investigations, trials and convictions with regular updates for transparency, alongside the Supreme Court’s observations and directives.
They have also sought updates on urgent and specific relief, rehabilitation, support and safety of women, children and vulnerable groups including medical aid, supplies, compensation, access to public spaces and safe transit, restoration of internet services and resumption of education as per their requirements, such as, enrollment and basic expense requests honoured for senior students at Manipur’s Central University, who have had to flee for safety to other cities etc.
They have further sought actions for building and maintaining communal harmony, enabling/ chairing dialogue between warring communities and using state machinery explicitly to foster peace and good governance to ensure long term, lasting peace.
“We hope that in pursuance of this letter, and amidst widespread protests across the country from across sections of society on the ongoing wave of divisiveness that threatens our sanity and future, you will listen to our persistent and collective appeal and formally address the people of India to show us you’re doing,” states letter signed by Sabina Martins on behalf of groups.
