[Reader-list] Arbitrary Detention of Human Rights Defender in Manipur

[Anivar Aravind]

Arbitrary Detention of Human Rights Defender in Manipur
http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/arbitrary-detention-of-human-rights-defender-in-manipur/

Name: Sapamcha Kangleipal Meitei (27 years)
Father’s Name: Sapam Shyamsunder Meetei
Address: Nongada Thongkhong, Imphal East, under the Lamlai Police
Station, Manipur
Occupation: Social Activist, President of Manipur Forward Youth Front
(MAFYF)
Date of incident: 7th May 2008
Place of incident: Manipur Press Club, Imphal
Perpetrators: Manipur police of Imphal police station and Manipur police
of City police, Imphal along with Manipur police commandos

Facts of the case:

A team of Manipur Police had arrested Mr, Sapamcha Kangleipal Meitei, a
key human rights defender and prominent youth leader of Manipur for
organising a public discussion on the Arming of Civilians (Similar to
Salwa Judum in Chattisgarh) and Its Possible Consequences (in Manipur)
and making statements regarding the above issue reportedly demanding the
resignation of the Chief Minister of Manipur in response to the failure
of governance.

The youth leader was picked up from the Manipur Press Club on 7 May 2008
on charge of sedition against Government shortly after the public
discussion. The police team reportedly forcibly switched off the live
telecast of the public discussion through a local cable TV network
(ISTV). Mr. Sapamcha has been working at the local grassroots level as
President of the Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) over the last seven
years.

Action requested

Please write to the Indian authorities and ask them to:

         * Take all necessary measures to guarantee, in all
circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Sapamcha
Kangleipal
         * Release Mr. Sapamcha Kangleipal immediately and
unconditionally, as his detention is arbitrary since it only aims at
sanctioning his human rights activities;
         * Put an end to any act of harassment, including at the
judicial level, against Mr. Sapamcha Kangleipal as well as against all
human rights defenders in India;
         * Guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
and other international human rights instruments ratified by India.

For More News on Kangleipal’s arrest and Peoples Protests against arming
civilians in Manipur see http://manipurfreedom.org