-
- In response to the Amnesty
International campaign for Sanamacha, his parents in Manipur State
recieved thousands of letters and greetings from concerned people across
the world, mostly from Great Britain, expressing sympathy and hope for
their 'missing' son.
The first batch of
letters and greetings were handed over to the family of Yumlembam
Sanamacha in a simple function organised at their home in Angtha village
of Yairipok on 6 December 1999. Sanamacha's father Yumlembam Jugol Singh
expressed his gratefulness at the concern shown by people from far away
places who did not even knew his son or the family before the
disappearance. He said, if the authorities here had shown as much concern,
he would have been able to know at least something about the whereabouts
of his son.
On the second anniversary
of the disappearance of Sanamacha held at the State Guest House, Imphal on
12 February 2000, an exhibition of the letters and cards was also held at
the same venue. Families of other disappeared people attended the
anniversary function and joined hands to form the Committee of Families of
the Disappeared, Manipur. We are reproducing here some of the letters.
To the
parents of Sanamacha,
I am very
sad to know about the arrest and disappearance of your son Yumlembam. I
pray that the truth will be known about his disappearance and that those
responsible for it will be brought to justice. You have many people in
Britain who think of you and wish you well.
- - Colin Bell
- Moor Pen,
Moor End
- Henley-on-Thames,
England
To the
parents of Sanamacha,
I greet you
in friendship. I am an English housewife who has learned of the
disappearance of your son. As a mother myself, I can appreciate how much
you must be suffering. Please accept my sincere good wishes.
- - Christine Smith
- 3, Lee Road, Hollywood
- Birmingham, England
To the
parents of Sanamacha,
You are not
forgotten. Yumlembam Sanamacha is not forgotten. We remember you by name,
and send our best wishes filled with hope, at the start of this new
millenium.
- - Dr. J.A. Wilson & Mrs A.C.
Wilson
- 15 Station Road
- Kingskettle, FIFE
- Scotland
Yumlembam
Sanamacha,
I have been
reading with my friends here in Dublin, the terrible details of your case.
I fear for India when I read that the human rights of its citizens are
trampled in such fashion. I will bring your name and details to the
attention of the High Commisioner for Human Right s In the United Nations.
My heart feels for you and your parents. In Ireland, the army is out of
the community and is strong because it never detaches itself from us the
citizens. The sons and daughters of ordinary folk make up our army. They
cannot but respect us ordinary folk.
- - Liam Kerry
- 158 Oak Court Drive
- Palmerstown, Dublin, Ireland
To the
parents of Sanamacha,
We are
thinking of you.
- - John C. Fraser & Kasey
- 9736 182 A Street
- Surrey BC V4N 4JB
- Canada
To the
parents of Sanamacha,
I cannot
even begin to think of the pain and distress you must have suffered since
the disappearance of your son. My thoughts are with you in your difficult
time and I hope Yumlembam will return soon.
- - Ruedi Nef
- Zandstraat 62
- 3 905 ED, Veenendal
- The Netherlands
To the
parents of Sanamacha,
We send you
our sympathy and wish that you will be reunited with your loved boy. Our
hearts go out to you at this time. We are many miles away, but we feel
linked to you. We hope the day will come when the world is full of peace
and love.
- - Eve Bland & son Joe
- 206 Cable St.
- London E10 BL
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