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Unidentified persons vandalised Human Rights activist Babloo Loitongbam's House, HRA office and properties including his car on the evening of October 5, 2023 (File photo)

NE Women’s Group Appeals to President of India to Intervene on Rights Activist Babloo’s Behalf

A North East Women’s group has appealed to the President of India, Draupadi Murmu to intervene on behalf of Babloo Loitongbam, a very well known and respected human rights worker from Manipur, who together with his family has faced threats of harm for his defiant defence of human rights abuses in the current conflict in Manipur.

The letter of appeal is endorsed by 48 personalities from the region, including peace builders, human rights activists, women’s organisations, writers, journalists and more.

We are reproducing the letter below:

 

To

Smt. Draupadi Murmu,

The Honourable President of India,

Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi

India.

We, concerned women leaders, human rights activists, peace builders, journalists, community leaders and concerned citizens from North East India are totally outraged and unequivocally condemn the recent dastardly and vicious attack based on trumped up allegations against Babloo Loitongbam a highly respected, renowned and credible human rights defender from the state of Manipur.

Honourable Madam, we submit this memorandum urging you for your immediate and urgent intervention and decisive action on the alarming situation in Manipur where unchecked extremism and violent vigilantism has increased exponentially and operates with blatant impunity under the very nose of the  Biren Singh government. An atmosphere of fear grips the citizens of the state who are already reeling under the  impact of the 17 months long conflict to which the double engine government at the State and Centre seem to have no control or solution. Many of these citizens have experienced unprecedented violence and mayhem at very close quarters and cannot be subjected to more. The State is duty bound to ensure that.

On the morning of September 23, 2024, a mob of some 50  young men arrived at the residence of Babloo Loitongbam and threatened his family with dire consequences  if Babloo is seen in the public domain. This threat was preceded by a press conference held the previous day by members of the Meitei Leepun (ML) levelling false charges against Babloo and warning people against working with him. Earlier too, this group and others have both threatened and vandalised Babloo’s home. The intent was not lost on any of us. It was to gag and suffocate the voice of justice, reason  and peace.

Babloo Loitongbam is a human rights lawyer of very high repute. His organisation Human Right Alert (HRA) includes lawyers  empanelled under the Manipur Legal Services Authority to offer legal services to all who need it. Babloo is an independent citizen of the state and a  firm believer in peaceful coexistence of the different communities of Manipur. He is certainly not on the payroll of any militant outfit or others as accused by self styled ‘protectors’ of Manipur who have no idea or choose to ignore that over three decades  Babloo has fought relentlessly for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958  and for justice for the people including  for Meitei families whose loved ones were killed in ‘enforced disappearance and extrajudicial executions’. Babloo is the driving force that these charges finally reached the Supreme Court –  country’s highest court of Justice. Will his accusers have either the tenacity or the commitment to stay the course and selflessly fight for justice for unrelated members of even their own community leave alone others?

While on the face of it this may look like an individual case when placed in the prevailing context of Manipur. But it is not. It raises a huge alarm for all concerned citizens who stand up for justice and want a solution to the vexed problem in Manipur today. Ironically in recent times there has been a plethora of ‘peace rhetoric’ on Manipur including by the Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah. The question is “Is peace building simply a bureaucratic, transactional, deal striking process”? Can we even talk about peace when the spoilers of peace operate with impunity and the enablers of violence are never questioned or removed. The Manipur situation so far has epitomised the abject failure of the state and of governance. If the Central government is now serious and sincere in restoring peace to this restive state then it has to ensure that violence and the enablers of the rhetoric of violence have to be stopped, brought to account and face consequences. It has to ensure that voices that call for peaceful coexistence and the willingness to listen to both sides of the conflict cannot be gagged.

The State is responsible for the security and safety of all its citizens but especially of people like Babloo Loitongbam who speak  for justice and peaceful  solutions. We reiterate that these voices cannot be silenced. We demand that the citizens of Manipur are able to live free from anxiety.

We join these voices and are confident that the Honourable President will do too.

Thank you for your attention and action,

 

Endorsed by:

 

Dr. Roshmi Goswami, NE Women Leader/South Asians For Human Rights, Meghalaya/Assam

Angela Rangad, TUR, Meghalaya

Tarun Bhartiya, TUR, Meghalaya

Patricia Mukhim, Senior Journalist/Editor Shillong Times, Padmasree awardee, Meghalaya

Dr. Monisha Behal, NE Women Leader, Assam/NE

Sanjoy Hazarika, Author, Assam/Meghalaya

Prof. Udayon Misra, Retd. Professor/Intellectual, Assam

Prof. Tilottoma Misra, Retd. Professor/Intellectual, Assam

Dr. Amrita Gogoi, Academic, Assam

Dr. Walter Fernandes, Director NESRC/Intellectual, Assam

Chitra Ahanthem, Citizen, Manipur/New Delhi.

Seno Tsuhah, Feminist/Woman Leader, Nagaland

Ngaineikim Chairperson, Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights, Manipur

Mary Beth Sanate, Women in Governance (WING-G), Manipur

Anurita Pathak, Feminist, Assam/NE

Rashmi Rekha, Feminist, Assam

Jarjum Gamlin Ete, Woman Leader, Arunachal Pradesh

Prof. Manorama Sharma, Retd. Professor NEHU/ Intellectual, Assam

Pradip Phanjoubam, Senior Journalist Manipur

Dr. Indranee Dutta, Retd. Professor, Assam

Dr. Xonzoi Barbora, MASS, Assam

Prof. Amar Yumnam, Ex- Vice Chancellor Manipur University/ Centre For Economic & Social Studies, Hyderabad Manipur/Telengana

Paresh Malakar, Axom Nagarik Samaj, Assam

Maini Mahanta, Writer/Feminist, Assam

Bondita Mrina, Women in Governance (WIN-G), Assam

Indira Kangjam, Citizen, Manipur/New Delhi

Dr. Bhogtoram Mawroh, Academic, Meghalaya

Samhita Barooah, Assistant Prof. Tezpur University, Assam

Anjuman Ara, Women in Governance (WIN-G), Assam

Mayfereen Ryntathiang, Grassroots, Meghalaya

Dr. Moses Kharbithai, Academic, Meghalaya

Caldwell Manners, Communications/Documentary Photographer, Meghalaya

Wanpynhun Kharsati, Woman Leader, Meghalaya

Supriya Khound, Feminist, Assam

Abantee Dutta, Lawyer, Assam

Nilanju Dutta, Feminist, Assam

Nandita Deka, Lawyer, Assam

Khawlnunsangi, Women in Governance (WIN-G) Manipur

Sunita Akoijam, Citizen, Manipur

Achan Mungleng, Researcher, Manipur

Laxmi Chetri,Activist, Assam

Tongam Rina, Journalist, Arunachal Pradesh

Soumen Moulik, Citizen, Meghalaya/West Bengal

Gertrude Lamare, Researcher, Meghalaya

Rehana Rahman, Feminist, Assam

Swarna Rajagopalan, Citizen, Tamilnadu

Anupam Banerjee, Citizen, West Bengal

Shangnaidar Shangdar, Women in Governance (WIN-G), Manipur

 

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