IMPHAL, Nov 6: Irom Singhajit, brother of Irom Chanu Sharmila, announced today that the entire prize money received by Sharmila as part of the prestigious Gwangju Award for Human Rights will be deployed in a trust dedicated to the promotion of human rights, peace and democracy.
Addressing a workshop on international humanitarian law for front-line reporters, held today at Hotel Imphal, Singhajit disclosed that the new trust, named the Just-Peace Foundation, was constituted yesterday, with the objective of carrying forward the spirit of Sharmila`s struggle to the people of Manipur and beyond.
He also informed that the trust is instituting a media fellowship programme from this year, focussing on reporting on rural and remote areas. Three journalists will be selected for the fellowship every year, he informed.
Further, the trust will extend financial assistance for research work in the field of peace and democracy, he disclosed.
In the meantime, in the first session of the workshop today, a thorough discussion was held on the Geneva conventions of August 12, 1049, and the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions, signed in 1977.
Human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam, speaking during the session, noted that an international meet was held at New Delhi on June 8, 2007, organised by the Indian Society for International Law to mark the 38th anniversary of the signing of the additional protocols to the Geneva conventions, but the Indian government still refuses to sign the additional protocols on the grounds that it would result in foreign interference in India`s internal affairs.
Referring to the situation in Manipur, he noted that Protocol II, relating to protection of victims of the internal armed conflicts would apply under international humanitarian law.
In the evening session, the charter for the safety of journalists working in war zones or dangerous areas, drawn up by the Reporters Sans Frontires, was thoroughly discussed. The possibility of conducting training for field staff in this connection was also mooted.
