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INDIA: Security agencies suspected in the murder of a young journalist in Manipur

November 26, 2008

ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION – URGENT APPEAL PROGRAMME

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-252-2008

26 November 2008
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INDIA: Security agencies suspected in the murder of a young journalist in Manipur

ISSUES: Murder; impunity; right to expression and opinion
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Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is informed by the Human Rights Alert (HRA) about the murder of a journalist in Manipur, India. It is reported that the scribe, Mr. Konsam Rishikanta Singh, working for the Imphal Free Press was shot dead near a place called Second Sangai Home in Langol Hill range on November 17. There are allegations that the security forces stationed in Manipur is behind the murder, as it happened in a high security area, where anyone who commits such an act cannot escape undetected.

CASE DETAILS:

Konsam Rishikanta Singh is aged about 22 years. Singh was the Junior Sub-Editor of one of the prominent English language daily--the Imphal Free Press (IFP). On November 17, Singh was expected to join duty at his office at 5pm since he was assigned the night shift. However, while Singh failed to report to work, an unidentified person called the editor of IFP, Mr. Pradeep Phanjaobam, on his mobile telephone and enquired whether Singh has reported to duty. When Phanjaobam informed that Singh has not reported to work, the caller informed Phanjaobam that Singh was shot dead near Langol area.

Huiyen Lanpao, a local daily in Manipur was also informed about Singh's murder. Reporters and friends from Huiyen Lanpao rushed to the area where Singh was reportedly shot at. As they reached the area, they could see commandos from the Manipur State Police at the crime scene. It is also reported that the area where Singh was shot at is a high security area where a person to enter or depart from the area has to clear at least three security gates staffed by state security forces.

The body was soon removed from the scene and an autopsy was conducted at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Imphal. It is reported that there were three projectile injuries on the body, one below the chin and two on the upper torso. While the detailed ballistic and forensic report is awaited, the fact that three shots fired at Singh hit him suggests that the assassin fired at Singh from a relatively lesser distance and should have attracted the attention of the security personals guarding the area. The silence on the part of the security forces, it is alleged, is indicative of the involvement of the security forces stationed in the state in this incident.

On the next day the All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) held an emergency meeting at the Manipur Press Club. The meeting condemned the killing and held a protest rally on the same day evening. The AMWJU also suspect the security forces as behind the murder. The AMWJU later on the same day submitted a written memorandum to the Chief Minister of the state demanding for a judicial enquiry into the incident and further demanding compensation to be paid to Singh's family by the state.

Since the government failed to meet these demands, the AMWJU organised a sit-in protest in the state capital on November 20. The AMWJU also said that they would stop working from November 20. On November 25, the members in the state cabinet demanded the state Chief Minister to hand over the investigation of the murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The cabinet meeting was convened specifically to discuss about the progress in the investigation into the murder. On a similar footing the Editors' Guild of India has filed a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India seeking an intervention to ensure proper enquiry into this case.

The HRA informs that the killing of Singh is the latest in the series of murders of scribes, carried out both by the state as well as the non-state armed opposition groups. The HRA reports that Mr. R. K. Santatomba, the editor of Kangla Langpung was killed in 1993, Mr. H.A. Lalrhlolu, editor of Shan was killed in 1999, Mr. Thongnoujam Brajamani, editor of Manipur News was killed in 2000, and Mr. Yambem Megha, a correspondent of Vision North East was killed in 2002. In 2006 there was an attempt on the life of Mr. Ratan Luwangcha, the Secretary General of AMWJU. But he survived.

The HRA further informs that in none of the cases cited above there has been a police investigation which resulted in a conviction. While the outlawed armed groups continues to pressure the local media to carry their handout and propaganda material as news, the security forces and the police exerts undue pressure upon the media whenever a news of violation of human rights and corruption are exposed by the media.

Last month for example, on October 10, 2008, the Manipur police threatened the editors of three local dailies (the Sangai Express, Poknapham and Naharolgi Thoudang) when they published news exposing the nexus between Manipur police and the smugglers active in the state. The news exposed the delivery of 13 truckloads of Urea that was reportedly smuggled from India to Burma to manufacture illegal drugs. The AMWJU condemned the police action and further asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to tender an apology. The AMWJU also informed the DGP that he would be responsible if anything happened to the journalists who covered the news.

There is no direct evidence to directly link the killing of Singh with this exposure. Nevertheless, the fear generated by the killing and the government's studied indifference is expected to have conveyed the message clear and loud to the media about the consequences they could face if they try to write against the police or anyone in the security forces stationed in the state.

The HRA informs that it is of the opinion that the killing of Singh is intended to generate a sense of fear and to silence the media from exposing the criminals within the law enforcement agencies.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities mentioned below demanding an investigation into the case. The AHRC has written a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression calling for intervention in this case.

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear __________,

INDIA: Murder of the young sub-editor must be investigated

Name of victim: Mr. Konsam Rishikanta Singh, aged about 22 years, Junior Sub-Editor, Imphal Free Press, son of Mr. Konsam Bhudhi Sigh, Ningomthong Sairou Leirak, Imphal west District, Manipur
Name of alleged perpetrator: Unknown - suspected to be associated with the Manipur State Police Commando Force
Date of incident: 17 November 2008
Place of incident: Near Second Sangai Home, Langol Hill Range

I am writing to express my concern regarding the recent murder of a journalist in Manipur state. I am informed that Mr. Konsam Rishikanta Singh, aged about 22 years was shot dead on 17 November at Langol Hill Range. I am aware that Singh was the Junior Sub-Editor of the English language daily -- the Imphal Free Press (IFP).

I am further informed that the circumstances that led to Singh's murder, especially the unidentified telephone call to Singh's Editor enquiring whether Singh had reported to work immediately after he was shot dead raises the suspicion about his murder. The fact that Singh was shot dead in a high security zone gives rise to a reasonable suspicion regarding the involvement of the security forces behind the murder.

I am also aware that in the autopsy conducted on Singh's body three projectile injuries were noted, suggesting that the assailant was close to Singh when he was shot. I am further informed that during the past several years there were similar murders of scribes in the state and that none of these cases was investigated properly.

The murders of Mr. R. K. Santatomba, the editor of Kangla Langpung was killed in 1993, Mr. H.A. Lalrhlolu, editor of Shan was killed in 1999, Mr. Thongnoujam Brajamani, editor of Manipur News was killed in 2000 and Mr. Yambem Megha, a correspondent of Vision North East killed in 2002 are all pending proper investigation.

It appears that reporting incidents which reveal the criminal nexus of the security agencies operating in the state or human rights abuses committed by them in the state is the death warrant to scribes in Manipur. This while exposes the failure of the state to protect and guarantee fundamental freedom of the citizen, also illuminates the suspicion whether the state agencies are behind these murders.

I am informed further that on 10 October 2008, the Manipur police had threatened the editors of three local dailies (the Sangai Express, Poknapham and Naharolgi Thoudang) when they published news exposing the nexus between Manipur police and the smugglers active in the state.

In these circumstances I request your office to immediately take steps to:

1. Investigate the murder of Mr. Konsam Rishikanta Singh;

2. Make public the details concerning the ballistic report conducted on Singh's body in connection with the autopsy;

3. If the report reveals that the shots were fired at close range the security officers who were guarding the premises where Singh was shot must immediately placed on suspension and the officers must be questioned;

4. The murders of 1. Mr. R. K. Santatomba, the editor of Kangla Langpung, killed in 1993, 2. Mr. H.A. Lalrhlolu, editor of Shan killed in 1999, 3. Mr. Thongnoujam Brajamani, editor of Manipur News killed in 2000 and 4. Mr. Yambem Megha, a correspondent of Vision North East killed in 2002 must all be investigated like that of Mr. Singh's case by an independent agency, and;

5. The families of all the five persons including that of Mr. Singh must be paid adequate compensation.

Yours sincerely,

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PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Mr. Manmohan Singh
The Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister's Office
Room number 152, South Block
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 23019545

2. Mr. L. P. Gonmei
Commissioner, Civil Secretariat
Imphal, Manipur
INDIA
Fax: +91 385 2311793

3. Mr. Shivraj Patil
Union Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs, 104-107 North Block
New Delhi 110 001
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2309 2979

4. Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh
Chief Minister of Manipur
Chief Minister's Secretariat
Babupara, Imphal, Manipur
INDIA
Fax: +91 385 2221817
E-mail: cmmani@hub.nic.in

Thank you.

Urgent Appeal Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
Document Type :
Urgent Appeal Case
Document ID :
AHRC-UAC-252-2008
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Extended Introduction: Urgent Appeals, theory and practice

A need for dialogue

Many people across Asia are frustrated by the widespread lack of respect for human rights in their countries.  Some may be unhappy about the limitations on the freedom of expression or restrictions on privacy, while some are affected by police brutality and military killings.  Many others are frustrated with the absence of rights on labour issues, the environment, gender and the like. 

Yet the expression of this frustration tends to stay firmly in the private sphere.  People complain among friends and family and within their social circles, but often on a low profile basis. This kind of public discourse is not usually an effective measure of the situation in a country because it is so hard to monitor. 

Though the media may cover the issues in a broad manner they rarely broadcast the private fears and anxieties of the average person.  And along with censorship – a common blight in Asia – there is also often a conscious attempt in the media to reflect a positive or at least sober mood at home, where expressions of domestic malcontent are discouraged as unfashionably unpatriotic. Talking about issues like torture is rarely encouraged in the public realm.

There may also be unwritten, possibly unconscious social taboos that stop the public reflection of private grievances.  Where authoritarian control is tight, sophisticated strategies are put into play by equally sophisticated media practices to keep complaints out of the public space, sometimes very subtly.  In other places an inner consensus is influenced by the privileged section of a society, which can control social expression of those less fortunate.  Moral and ethical qualms can also be an obstacle.

In this way, causes for complaint go unaddressed, un-discussed and unresolved and oppression in its many forms, self perpetuates.  For any action to arise out of private frustration, people need ways to get these issues into the public sphere.

Changing society

In the past bridging this gap was a formidable task; it relied on channels of public expression that required money and were therefore controlled by investors.  Printing presses were expensive, which blocked the gate to expression to anyone without money.  Except in times of revolution the media in Asia has tended to serve the well-off and sideline or misrepresent the poor.

Still, thanks to the IT revolution it is now possible to communicate with large audiences at little cost.  In this situation there is a real avenue for taking issues from private to public, regardless of the class or caste of the individual.

Practical action

The AHRC Urgent Appeals system was created to give a voice to those affected by human rights violations, and by doing so, to create a network of support and open avenues for action.  If X’s freedom of expression is denied, if Y is tortured by someone in power or if Z finds his or her labour rights abused, the incident can be swiftly and effectively broadcast and dealt with. The resulting solidarity can lead to action, resolution and change. And as more people understand their rights and follow suit, as the human rights consciousness grows, change happens faster. The Internet has become one of the human rights community’s most powerful tools.   

At the core of the Urgent Appeals Program is the recording of human rights violations at a grass roots level with objectivity, sympathy and competence. Our information is firstly gathered on the ground, close to the victim of the violation, and is then broadcast by a team of advocates, who can apply decades of experience in the field and a working knowledge of the international human rights arena. The flow of information – due to domestic restrictions – often goes from the source and out to the international community via our program, which then builds a pressure for action that steadily makes its way back to the source through his or her own government.   However these cases in bulk create a narrative – and this is most important aspect of our program. As noted by Sri Lankan human rights lawyer and director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, Basil Fernando:

"The urgent appeal introduces narrative as the driving force for social change. This idea was well expressed in the film Amistad, regarding the issue of slavery. The old man in the film, former president and lawyer, states that to resolve this historical problem it is very essential to know the narrative of the people. It was on this basis that a court case is conducted later. The AHRC establishes the narrative of human rights violations through the urgent appeals. If the narrative is right, the organisation will be doing all right."

Patterns start to emerge as violations are documented across the continent, allowing us to take a more authoritative, systemic response, and to pinpoint the systems within each country that are breaking down. This way we are able to discover and explain why and how violations take place, and how they can most effectively be addressed. On this path, larger audiences have opened up to us and become involved: international NGOs and think tanks, national human rights commissions and United Nations bodies.  The program and its coordinators have become a well-used tool for the international media and for human rights education programs. All this helps pave the way for radical reforms to improve, protect and to promote human rights in the region.