Human rights council slams State government, Centre

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Shillong, Dec  10: Both the Central as well as State Government Centre has miserably failed to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of its citizens, said the Secretary General of the Meghalya People Human Rights Council (MPHRC) Dino D G Dympep on Thursday.

Issuing a statement on World Human rights day, Dympep stated that the Government’s indifference to the people’s long pending demand and its obdurate refusal to repeal the draconian law such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that prevented armed personnel from prosecution for their human rights violations.  “The human rights situation in Meghalaya still remains grim. The widespread flagrant violation of human rights includes arbitrary detention, death in police custody, kidpping and killing with impunity by both the security apparatus and the insurgent groups,” said the statement.  “The state has also completely failed to protect women and children from abuse and sexual assault” it said.  “We strongly condemn the political violence and human rights violations and abuses committed in Garo Hills Region as well as the ongoing impunity enjoyed by perpetrators” added the statement.