Armed Violence and Human Rights in Manipur

The state of Manipur in northeast India has been racked by insurrection for many years. To understand the daily violence one has to delve deep and discern the structural violence built inside the economic, political and social structure of society. Structural violence in Manipur has led to secondary violence—gross human rights violations including enforced disappearances, extra-judicial executions, rape and torture have become endemic. Many non-derogable rights have been violated by security forces under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958. The situation in Manipur is a case of “internal disturbance” or “non-international armed conflict” requiring invocation of Article 355 and not a “public order” problem. Accordingly, all parties to the conflict should at a minimum, follow the Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions as well as rules of engagement under relevant international humanitarian laws.