The International Human Rights Association (IHRA), Churachandpur denounced the issuance of arrest warrant against All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) general secretary SR Andria for supporting the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021 and directed the state home department to withdraw the said arrest warrant order.
In a release, IHRA president Mark Tangang Haokip stated that the state government has no right to arrest or disturb the leader(s) of the students’ body for supporting the legitimate ADC Bill 2021 introduced by Hills Area Committee. Issuing the arrest warrant against the student leader is an extreme violation of human rights perpetrated by the Biren-led state government.
The students’ body has not committed any anti-government policy that could lead to the destruction of the security protocols. The government is responsible for perpetrating the anti-hill people policy that is also a violation of the constitutional rights of the citizens, he alleged.
The release further stated that the state government should refrain from committing such discrimination against the public leaders by misusing the law. It is a grave violation of human rights and directly against Article 5 and 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
IHRA therefore directed the concerned home department of the state to withdraw or revoke the said arrest warrant order against the ATSUM general secretary immediately and should inform action taken in this regard to IHRA through email: mt.haokip02@gmail.com without fail, it added.
