Various heads of state human rights institutions, activists, senior academics, victims and other stakeholders strongly emphasized the need for a transitional justice process in Manipur to address the ‘pressing needs’ of widows, children and other family members affected by the extrajudicial killings and other serious human rights violations in Manipur over the past several decades.
In a joint press release by Human Rights Alert (HRA), Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM), Centre for Human Rights Studies, OP Jindal Global University (JGU) and Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (Manipur University), towards this end, the immediate need for the establishment of a ‘truth commission’, payment of compensation to victims, strengthening justice institutions including the State human rights institutions, expedite criminal cases lodged against the perpetrators and ensure accountability and uphold rule of law.
According to the press statement of the four organizations, these unanimous recommendations emerged at the end of a one-day consultation on Application of Transitional Justice Framework for the Families of Victims of Extrajudicial Execution in Manipur that was organized by these organizations at the Manipur University Court Room on Saturday.
Participating in this consultation, the acting chairperson of Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC), chairperson of Manipur State Commission for Women and chairperson of Manipur State Commission for Protection of Child Rights assured the support of their respective institutions in seeking justice for these victims, the press release stated.
Babloo Loitongbam, executive director of HRA, pointed out the limitations of the on-going investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators to address the pressing justice needs of the families of more than 1528 victims.