By Felix Anthony

Guwahati, May 29, 2023: The Catholic bishops of northeastern India have made a fresh appeal for peace amid news of growing tension and violence in Manipur state.

“It is with great pain and intense anxiety that we have been following the great tragedies that have taken place in Manipur recently. We grieve with our brothers and sisters who have fallen victims to violence and have suffered in consequence,” says the May 28 message signed by Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati, chairman of the North East India Regional Bishops’ Council.

“The loss of precious lives and property has been immense. A large number of people have moved out of the state. The atmosphere continues to be tense. Painful incidents are still reported. While we have initiated relief work, we are far from a position to cope with the situation. We cry for help on behalf of those who suffer,” the statement bemoans.

The appeal was made after the bishops in the region held an emergency meeting at Assam’s Silchar at the backdrop of the episcopal ordination of Auxiliary Bishop Joachim Walder of Aizawl, Mizoram.

On the same day, a sudden spurt in clashes and firing between militants and security forces led to the death of two people and wounded 12 others. Two of the wounded died following day in the hospital.

Army and paramilitary personnel continued combing operations in the Imphal valley and surrounding districts, The Hindu newspaper quoted an official as saying. The Army operation is aimed at confiscating illegal caches of arms, he added.

On May 29, protesters piled on the road, burnt tires and construction material in Imphal.

The newspaper reported quoting Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh that the security forces have killed some 40 Kuki tribals allegedly involved in violence.

The latest clashes reportedly began after the Army and paramilitary forces began combing operations to de-arm communities to bring peace.

One policeman was killed and another injured at Sugnu in the firing.

The latest incidents of violence have forced the district authorities to shorten the 11-hour curfew-relaxation period in Imphal East and West districts to just six-and-a-half hours.

Ethnic clashes, which have claimed more than 75 lives in Manipur, first broke out after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organized in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.

Meiteis account for about 53 percent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 percent of the population and reside in the hill districts.

Around 140 columns of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles, comprising over 10,000 personnel, besides those from other paramilitary forces, had to be deployed to bring back normalcy in the northeastern State.

Given below is the full appeal for peace from the bishops:

We, the Catholic Bishops of North-eastern region of India, gathered together at Silchar on the occasion of the ordination of Bishop Joachim Walder as the Auxiliary Bishop of Aizawl, had and emergency session of the regional conference to discuss the tragic situation that has arise in the state of Manipur.

It is with great pain and intense anxiety that we have been following the great tragedies that have taken place in Manipur recently. We grieve with our brothers and sisters who have fallen victims to violence and have suffered in consequence.

The loss of precious lives and property has been immense. A large number of people have moved out of the state. The atmosphere continues to be tense. Painful incidents are still reported. While we have initiated relief work, we are far from a position to cope with the situation. We cry for help on behalf of those who suffer.

At the same time, we urge all our friends in Manipur to think of their glorious history, when in times past different communities wholeheartedly collaborated and set a model in various areas of civic life. Their cultural achievements have been many. Their contribution to the nation has been in various areas of life. Great possibilities still remain, if only they put their good will and talents together.

We request intellectuals and creative thinkers of the communities in tensions to think up ways of easing the situation, exploring a constructive way forward and devise ways of settling the differences. They will surely find areas where concessions can be made in view of the common good and collaborative steps initiated in view of a shared future. Both communities concerned know their destinies are intertwined.

May future generations be able to thank the sobriety, balance and wisdom of our present leaders for their timely intervention and the entire society for their wholehearted collaboration.

Issued on behalf of North East India Regional Bishops Council
Archbishop John Moolachira, Chairman