The Independent People’s Tribunal on Manipur, established by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), held sessions in Delhi on July 6 and 7 to gather testimonies from survivors and victims of the ethnic violence that has plagued Manipur since May 3 of last year.
Prior to the hearings in Delhi, Tribunal members and secretariat staff visited Manipur in late May and June, PUCL announced on Monday. The Tribunal consists of 14 members.
During their visit, the team traveled to several violence-affected districts, including Bishnupur, Churachandpur, Imphal, Kangpokpi, Kakching, and Senapati, to record testimonies from survivors and victims of various communities. They also met with organizations providing relief to the affected populations.
The team inspected numerous relief camps and met with government officials and security forces. In addition to the testimonies collected and discussions held with various stakeholders, the Tribunal received documents outlining different aspects of the ongoing violence.
The Tribunal also heard from internally displaced persons and representatives of different ethnic communities, including Kukis, Meiteis, Nagas, and Pangals. They further engaged with advocates, journalists, healthcare professionals, scholars, academics, and activists.
PUCL stated that the Independent People’s Tribunal on Manipur was created in response to the prolonged violence and serious issues of constitutional governance in the state.
The Tribunal’s objectives include documenting violations suffered by the people of Manipur, with a particular focus on loss of life, sexual violence, and violence against children, women, including pregnant women, and the elderly. It aims to evaluate the performance of constitutional authorities in preventing violence, ensuring justice, investigating and prosecuting crimes, and providing remedies for victims.
The Tribunal also seeks to examine the role of security agencies and government officials at both state and central levels in maintaining law and order. Additionally, it will assess the efforts of national and state institutions in protecting human rights. The Tribunal plans to analyze existing documentation on the Manipur crisis, identify reasons for the ongoing violence, and propose recommendations to repair the social, cultural, and political fabric of the state.
The findings of the Tribunal will be compiled into a ‘Report to the Nation’ in the coming months, which will include recommendations to ensure accountability, justice, and redress for the people of Manipur, the statement concluded.
