Jiten Yumnam
Testimony by Jiten Yumnam at the 2013 Dublin Platform
I received electric shocks to the lower part of my body, to my lower abdomen and it continued for a long time. They kicked me, they beat me and some of the police commandos put their revolvers to my head and they threatened to shoot me.
Jiten Yumnam is a journalist, human rights advocate and environmental activist in the state of Manipur. He is a deep understanding about the economics and its effects. He is from the indigenous population of Manipur. He is a part of the group, Center for Research and Advocacy Manipur (CRAM) along with many other human rights groups have been involved in protesting against the exploitation of natural resources and human right violations in the Manipuri state. They have been working towards promoting sustainable development in the region. Shri Jiten has been giving a strong opposition against AFPSA and its enforcement to justify extra judicial killings of many in Manipur. He had been arrested in 2009 for continuously raising voices against the act but was finally released after human rights groups' pressure. He is one of those people who has deep understanding of the issues in NE India on human rights and environmental awareness.
Human rights defenders in India face a diverse range of attacks and harassment from state and non-state actors alike, including killing, physical assault, arbitrary detention, threats and judicial harassment. Police officials are often the perpetrators of violence against HRDs, which is usually carried out with impunity. Armed groups and private companies also target HRDs for work related to economic development projects and their impact on the local communities or the environment. HRDs are increasingly the targets of online smear campaigns by radical nationalists.
