Underscores the breach of inter-community ties and peace in Manipur by Chin-Kuki-Mizo militants
IT News
Imphal, June 14:
Fifteen different organisations have submitted memorandum in connection with the ongoing crisis in the state of Manipur to the allied offices and the Agencies of the United Nations.
All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), Committee on Human Rights (COHR), National Research Centre (NRC), Porei Leimarol Meirapaibi Apunba Lup Manipur (PLMPAM), Indigenous People’s Forum (IPF), Irabot Foundation Manipur (IFM), All Manipur Ethnical Socio Cultural Organisation (AMESCO), All Manipur Meitei Pangal Clubs Organisation (AMMPCO), Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC), Pangal Students’ Organisation (PSO), All Manipur Women’s Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA), Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF), Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur (CRAM), Youths Foundation for Fitness and Service Manipur (YOFFS) and the All Manipur Manpower Upliftment Centre (AMMUC) submitted the memorandum to the Secretary General, United Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Under Secretary-General, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Civil Society Section, Amnesty International and ICRC, India Chapter (8) UNODC, Asia, calling for urgent attention on the issue of hunger, poverty, militarization, partisan role of the central security forces of India, and unabated violation of Tripartite Suspension of Operation Ground Rules by the Kuki militants.
The Memorandum underscored the breach of inter-community ties and peace in Manipur and in the entire Northeastern region due to the evident involvement of foreign Chin-Kuki-Mizo (Myanmarese) mercenaries in inciting inter-ethnic violence in Manipur.
‘An unbiased international attention and intervention is the need of the hour in accordance with the established International Humanitarian Laws’, claims the Memorandum. The Memoranda seeks to draw the attention of the United Nations to the issues of human rights violations and the blockade of lifeline like highways by the Kuki militant groups under the Suspension of Operation. The involvement of Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) and Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) in blocking the National Highways, disallowing free movement of people and transportation of essential commodities has been termed as ‘inhuman’ and ‘genocidal attitude’ for causing enormous price rise, poverty, and hunger in the state of Manipur. The issue of drug cartel and its ever-expanding financing network in the social and political life of the Northeast region and India-Myanmar borderland has been placed before the UN.
Explicating the origin of the present ethnic tension, the petition argues that ‘the mobilization for Greater Chin-Kuki Homeland also known as Zalen’gam project has continuously impaired inter-ethnic relations in the region.’ The submission has highlighted how the ethnic Zo politics has worked in collusion with the narco-finance capital terror network driven by clan-based ethnic militant groups thereby making easy inroads into electoral politics and institutions of power. Delving on the issue, ‘cross-border insidious economic activities like human trafficking, poppy cultivation, deforestation, illegal immigration, ecological issues, and space politics complicates’ the state, argues the petition.
The petition apprises the UN to understand the historically distinct shared democratic, and plural body polity of Manipur. The democratic participation of Nagas, Meiteis, Kukis and Pangals (Manipur Muslims) in the independent Constitutional and modern state making process in Manipur has been highlighted to acquaint the UN with the fraternal political history of Manipur. The Memorandum stresses on the inter-connected topography of Manipur as it apprises the international community to know that 3-4% of Manipur’s valley is home to nearly 60% state’s population which warrants for envisioning of a democratic and just land laws. Highlighting the issue of demography and geo-politics, the Memorandum cites the issue of the influx of foreigners, inability on the part of the Government of India to implement National Registrar of Citizens and Zo exclusive Greater Homeland territorial project as among the key concerns that is to prove inimical to ethnic harmony, integrity, and peace in Manipur.
The collective of fifteen organizations pledge before the UN agencies to probe and punish the violation of International Humanitarian Laws by the Chin-Kuki militants under suspension of operation under established international norms.
The memorandum also pledges the UN to mandate the ICRC to extend its humanitarian relief and services to all the victims of the present violence. And also urged the UN to apprise the Indian state to uphold the territorial and administrative integrity of Manipur.
The 15 organisations also urged the UN to ensure free movement of people on the national highways and transportation of essential goods including food and also to ensure the services of Red Cross (India) and media access be ensured in Kuki militant dominated areas.
The memorandum also urged for an investigation on the proliferation of narco-cartel organised violent networks, small arms trade and its long-term ramifications on youths and ethnic harmony in Manipur.
The 15 collectives also urged the United Nations and ICRC to extend its support in rehabilitation and reparation for the damages and losses inflicted by the conflict.