Senseless killings are Crimes against Humanity
Prosecute the Dimasha and Karbi killers, rights group urges

New Delhi: Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today deplored continuing senseless killings of the Dimashas and Karbis in Assam. About 88 persons have been killed till yesterday, hundreds of houses gutted and about 20,000 people internally displaced who are desperate need for food, medicine, drinking water and physical security.

“Indiscriminate killings of the civilians and burning down of villages both by the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) and United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) violate the basic principles of international humanitarian law standards and constitute crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of International Criminal Court. Nothing can justify the killing of innocent civilians.” – stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.

“The issue is not only ensuring respect for cease-fire ground rules or dis-arming the armed groups as stressed by the Ministry of Home Affairs but also identifying the culprits responsible for the killings and leaders who have been organizing the carnage, and prosecuting them for crimes against humanity. Unless the culprits are brought to justice, such wanton killings will recur and the North East will become akin to the Great Lakes region of Africa” – further stated Mr Suhas Chakma.

Asian Centre for Human Rights urged the Union Home Ministry and the State government of Assam to immediately provide humanitarian assistance to the displaced Dimashas and Karbis at par with assistance given to the Kashmiri Pandits and ensure adequate security by deploying adequate security forces without any further delay.

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