Observance Of International Human Rights Day

As per plan of New Life Foundation under the project “Peoples Response to Climate change and capacity building on patriarchal system and criminal justice system in north- east India” INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY was observed on 10^th December 2017 at the

community hall MoirangKonjengbamManing Leikai, with the objective to create awareness among the people on the issues of human rights violations and to advocate on the concern authority to act for protection of human rights. And also to highlight the human rights violation situation in Manipur through, rally, public meeting and human rights base concert.

The observation was jointly organized by United NGOs Mission – Manipur, Women Action for Development, Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights, New Life Foundation – Manipur, Women Action Forum Bishnupur, 21 SHG Groups, ChildlineBishnupur

“Rally Cum Public Meeting along with a musical concert from TAPTA” was the event of the observation. The rally was Flag off by Mr. LamabamPishakSingh,Director, ChildlineBishnupur Collab and Dr. KhUmananda Singh, Para legel Volunteer, Legal Aid Clinic, Moirangfrom the gate of Moirang Multipurpose HigherSecondary School, MoirangLamkhai and concluded at MoirangManingkonjengbamLeikai, Community hall. More than 500 people were participated in the rally with the slogan of “STOP VIOLENCE AGIANSTWOMEN AND CHILDREN”, “REPEAL AFSPA, 1958”, “NO MEANS NO”, “FIGHT IN THE RING NOT AT HOME”, “RAISE YOUR VOICE AGAINST VIOLENCE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN”, “BREAK THE SILENT SPEAK UP”, “RAISE YOUR FIST AGAINST THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOT TO WOMEN” etc.

Many eminent persons such as

Mrs. SobitaMangsatabam,Secretary, Women Action for Development;

Mr. IrengbamJugeshwor Singh, Principal, Oinam Law College, spoke on “Implementation of International Humanitarian Law”

Mrs. W. Lata Devi, AdvocateDomestic Violence Act, 2005 and Crime Against Women in Manipur.

Mr. UrikhibamNobokishor Singh, Secretary,United NGOs Mission, ManipurConflict and Violence in the Context ofManipur and North East”

Mr. Kh. Jibon Singh, Ex–Cooperative and Art and Culture, Minister,government of Manipur.

Mr. BabluLoitongbam, Director, Human Rights Alert

Thereafter the rally cum public meeting was wind up with vote of thanks from Mrs. L. Rebati Devi, District Convener, District Women Committee, Bishnupur – United NGOsMission, Manipur and followed by the Musical Concert from TAPTA.

The musical concert was started at around 5:30pm with the message against the violation which was done to civilians, against the women and children of the state by the state and non state actors. At the very outset of the concert Mr. LamabamPishak Singh, Secretary, New Life Foundation stated that music is an art for some people. Music is soul to some people. Music is leisure for some people. Music is a voice that conveys message to some people. All is not very well in Manipur; the state of ours is pathetic. Book-burning, Communal and Ethnic Violence, Economic Blockades, Name-sake Social Workers and Political Workers, very frequent Bandhs, Puppet Politicians, Corrupt Bureaucracy and others who play a major role in the affairs of the state; all these social ills serve to form a recursive loop. Everybody applies the mantra of the “survival of the fittest”, and they don’t care whether their means are fair or unfair. Is everything justified in the name of money-making? People live their lives in fear, in their very own land, because a bullet from a Kalashnikov can make a target out of anyone – anytime, and anywhere. Yes, the power of bullets!!! Life is being devaluated day by day. The system is full of flaws, which are spiraling out of control. Still most of us prefer to remain as mute spectators. Are we so “dimly aware” or are we the “educated fools”? Bob Dylan’s “Blowing In The Wind” and “The Times They Are Changing”, became the anthems of the anti-war and civil rights movements. Bob Marley who suffered racial prejudice as a youth wrote “Get Up, Stand Up”, “Redemtion Song”, “No Woman No Cry” etc. John Lennon, used his power as a superstar to help end the Vietnam War. A rebel from the days of the Beatles itself, he became an anti-war activist, an apostle of peace. Likewise, TAPTA the renowned singer of Manipur is also one of them who wants peace and justice in the society and expressed through the medium of song and he welcomed TAPTA to present a few song with related to the day’s observation of international human rights day.

The concert was a fruitful as Mr. TAPTA gave many messages against the violation of women and children in the state through his songs. He sang his song “BLACK LAW” that shows impunity done by under the AFSPA 1958 by the state and non state actors. He stated that he believes in freedom of the artist, in freedom of expression, he would like to break the silence and express his displeasure, society’s displeasure and humanity’s displeasure our displeasure with the authorities of the land. Some of the notable verses among many of the numbers presented on this day were:-

Bandh-

Prime minister laak-pagihekta bandh

Mantrimatikchaadehaibagihekta bandh

Delhi-nathawoibidehaibeihekta bandh

Naga-galam yet-naba-gisuhekta bandh

Bandh bandh, bandh bandh, nangseeikhoiManipurgiro……………..

VandheMataram

Laan-mina Lei-ngakpa Lam, AFSPA naPanbaLeibak

Oat-neiribaLamdam, Loilam-giLamdam,

NingtambaPhanglee-giana, Shaklu-ghidraEaina‘VandeMataram’ ?

Punseen-biragadabaKhong-Khut, Sarangi Mannungda

Phugai-biragadaba, sor-se leppaphouba custody da…

Ng-ang-khi-gadaraEaibu, ‘Jana gana mana aadina….?

Thus the observation winds up with a meaningful message to the society.