Manipur News

Co-ordinating Body of Trade Unions, Manipur, a conglomerate of Central and State level trade union organisations in the interest of the Motor ‘Workers and Owners of the state submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today.
L Sotinkumar and Ksh Santa of the Union said on the night of 17th Day of April, 2013 two trucks were burnt to. ashes on their way to fmphal bearing registration numbers MNO4A-3991 and MNO4A-7718 by unidentified gunmen with camouflage combat dress at National Highway 37 between the Seijang Village and Charoi Pandongba Khul. The first truck was loaded with Rice bags cf FCI and the other trucks was loaded with cement for our state’s consumption and use.
The driver of the first truck Sorokhaibam Babu (40) a resident of Samurou Awang Leikai, Imphal West District was shot death by the unidentified gunmen before burning the truck to ashes. The handyman who happens to be the brother in-law of the driver escaped by chance.
The trucks were burnt to ashes and the driver was killed by one of the outlawed Naga Insurgent groups operating in that part of the state. Burning and killing of trucks and driver may flare up ethnic tension it was stated.
The incident strengthened the views that National Highways in the hill areas of Manipur are not safe to the motor workers, owners as well as to the general public.
The Co-ordinating Body of Trade Unions, Manipur submit the following Charter of Demands for immediate implementation for the upliftment and betterment of the motor workers, owners and bereaved family of the deceased driver.
Charter of Demands
1. Book the culprits immediately and punish them according to the law of our country.
2. Pay Rs. ten lacs as compensation and arrange one Govt. job to the bereaved family as the driver was on Govt, duty i.e. FCI,
3. Institute a High Level Committee to look after the causes of such type of incidents.
4. Permanent Highway Protection Force should be manned on the National Highways in the hill areas of Manlpur to protect the vehicles, motor workers, owners and general public.
5. Arrange all educational expenses for life for the daughter of deceased driver.
Meanwhile the BJP, Manipur Pradesh expressed unhappiness over the killing of S. Babu a truck driver and burning down of two trucks on April 17.
A press release of the party said the congress led Ibobi govt did not take the previous incidents seriously.
As a result, torture and killing of drivers on National highways frequently took places. The killing of driver is not the beginning nor it will be the end.
Driver Gobardhan was also brutally killed when he came from FCI godown in the month of February. The incidents were caused due to the congress government both in centre and Manipur.
The government did not take up appropriate actions. The party also demanded punishment of those who involved in the killing of driver Babu.
It also shared the sorrows of the bereaved family.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/trade-unions-demand-permanent-highway-protection-force/

Mail News Service
Imphal, April 20 : Rashida Manjoo, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences (UNSRVAW), who will be on an official mission to India from 22nd April to 1st May, 2013 has scheduled a consultation meeting with civil society organizations, women human rights defenders, victims and other advocates working on violence against women on Sunday, 28th April at Imphal, Manipur. Ms Rashida Manjoo accepted an invitation sent on 13th March from the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and the UN (CSCHR) to visit Manipur and the North East region during her mission. Civil society organisations and groups including individuals, women human rights defenders and other advocates working on the issue of violence against women and girls in the North East region are preparing for a regional consultation meeting that has been scheduled for 28th April 2013 at Imphal.
The first ever formal visit of a distinguished official of the UN with a human rights mandate to Manipur is an historic occasion. The mandate of the UNSRVAW was established on 4th March 1994 by the UN Commission for Human Rights. This year marks the arrival of the 20th year of the mandate. Ms Rashida Manjoo has a broad three year mandate renewed by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2011 by Resolution 16/7.
The UNSRVAW will address violence against women broadly, focusing on both its causes and consequences according to the mandate. The Special Rapporteur will study the different manifestations of violence against women: 1) in the family (both domestic violence and culturally justified practices that are violent to or subordinate women); 2) in the community (including rape/sexual assault, sexual harassment); 3) violence perpetrated or condoned by the State (institutional violence), and 4) violence in the transnational sphere (violence against immigrant women, asylum seekers and refugees).
Furthermore, in order to have a clearer picture of the issues in India, the Special Rapporteur will be compiling and studying information on recent analyses or surveys on the situation and forms of violence against women in India; analyses on the criminal or civil provisions that may be applied to cases of violence against women, and whether these are appropriate or sufficient; priority issues/concerns to raise, suggestions for recommendations related to VAW in the public and private spheres, and any recent and concrete cases of violence against women and girls.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/un-special-rapporteur-arriving-on-28/