Forum floated to combat human rights violations in manipur

Imphal, January 20 : CONCERNED OVER the rampant human rights violations particularly extra-judicial killings wherein three to four people have been killed in Manipur on daily basis, a legal forum called the Legal Protection Centre (LPC) to combat various forms of rights violation was floated on Monday.

Announcing the formation of the LPC during a press conference at the office of the Human Rights Initiatives (HRI) office in Imphal, LC.

Jenine Meetei, executive director of the HRI and co-coordinator of LPC, informed that the LPC is formed by a group of like minded individuals and organizations which includes lawyers, journalists, social workers, senior citizens, research-scholars, human rights activists and organizations.

The LPC is formed with the vision of holding a concerted effort and building a unified strength to check and combat various rights violations, added the co-coordinator of the LPC.

While revealing that the word 'extra-judicial killing' is a crying issue in the state which has reached at an alarming level, Jenine informed that the formation of the LPC is a follow-up action of the recommendation of a panel discussion entitled "Justice and dignity in Manipur".

The discussion was organized by the Manipur Human Rights Commission in association with the HRI and Manipur Human Right Organisation at the Manipur state guest house as a part of the 60th International Human Rights Day observation on December 10, 2008 .

Further, during the conference, Jenine also conveyed the Joint Legal Centre (LPC) was a voluntary group with the main objective to give free assistance and service to the victims and family of the extra-judicial executions and tortures etc.

Janine also informed that the LPC will also provide legal awareness through meetings, seminars, workshops, etc to related group and law enforcement agencies.

Also speaking during the press conference senior advocate and chairman of the LPC, Khaidem Mani revealed that even as there are no official facts of arm conflict in Manipur, there has been a big conflict going on in de facto.

Khaidem Mani, further revealed that the formation of the LPC will help assist in maintaining the law and order situation and as well as in bringing order in the state and added that it will also affect some of high ranking police officials.