By Matters India Reporter
New York, August 7, 2023: The Indian Christian community in the Tri-state area organized a vigil in front of the United Nations to pray for peace and justice in Manipur where ethnic clashes have raged since May 3.
The participants of the August 5 program prayed for good sense to come to the perpetrators of the violence and for the authorities to have the courage to reign in the continuing attacks on the Kuki-Zo tribal people, mostly Christians, in the northeastern Indian state.
The vigil, attended by more than 700 people, expressed solidarity with the grieving people of Manipur. “Prayers by the clergy reflected the deep pain felt across the Indian Christian Community in the United States for the great calamity that befell Manipur with tremendous loss of human lives and destruction of homes and churches,” says a press statement from the Federation of Indian American Christians of North America (FIACONA), one of the organizers.
The prayer rally was initiated by some concerned citizens to bring Christians from all denominations and regions in cooperation with FIACONA for the cause of the Manipuri Christians.
“This is not a protest rally. We aim not to examine why the riots happened, who is responsible, or politics. We are here today to pray for the rule of law in Manipur, and obviously, there are limits as to what we can do to help. However, Prayer does not have any limitations,” said FIACONA president Koshy George.
He also clarified their aim was not to condemn or oppose anyone politically.
Anna George, the leader of the event, pointed out that the Christians in America feel hurt when their counterparts in Manipur are in pain.
“It is a reflection of this that so many people gathered here on the day off, putting aside all other programs,” She said and added, “People are being killed and becoming refugees. Women are sexually molested, gang-raped, and marched naked. People are without food, water, or shelter. Their anguish and pain are beyond our imagination.”
George also said people in India have lived in harmony with various religious groups for years.
“But what has happened now? A genocide or massacre is taking place right before our eyes,” she lamented. She also pointed out that 145 people have died in the violence that has rendered more than 60,000 people homeless.
“Over 300 churches were destroyed, and 170 villages were burnt. It is continuing. Undoubtedly, Christians are being targeted. These are massive human rights violations,” George asserted.
She said Christians in the US cannot remain silent when they see tears and lamentation of their Manipur brothers and sisters. “So far, neither the state government nor the Central government has intervened adequately. It must end. This vigil also demands that the American media and government speak for us on this issue. It is a shame that this country is silent on women being abused and run naked,” she added.
American activist and journalist Peter Friedrich, who addressed the gathering, said Manipur is a repeat of what was done in Odisha’s Kandhamal. “The police and the government need to do more. The central government is not moving,” he said.
Friedrich regrets that the U S government pretends to have seen nothing. “America is strengthening trade ties with Delhi while Christians are bleeding in Manipur,” he said.
He also criticized the reticent American churches. “As free people, we have a duty to fight for freedom. We are one in Christ. Let us unite and pray for Manipur from our knees. Let us act against the forces trying to suffocate the Christian people,” he said.
New York State Senator Kevin Thomas was the only legislator to attend the rally. He clarified that justice and peace should prevail and that the lives of all humans are equal. There is no difference between Hindu, Christian, Sikh or Jain. He called to work for a world where people live as one.
Bishop Johncy Itty of the Episcopal Church said,” The wonderful thing about humanity is that we reveal ourselves in times of distress and how we come together in times of anxiety and frustrations because we care about justice, freedom, and peace. He urged the gathering to be resolute in fighting for justice and praying for those who are persecuted.”
Father Robinson Frank, an American Catholic priest, said that the governments should wake up and work to develop the legal system in Manipur. He said that the persecution of Christians in India also saddens them.
Manipur woman Wumang pointed out that their houses were burnt down in Imphal, the state capital. They have a family of 28 members. They escaped by seeking shelter in an army camp. Later they were transferred to New Delhi where they now live in rented houses. Mark Mang from Manipur described how his relatives were killed. His cousins, who were protecting the village, were shot dead by security forces, he added.
The Tri-state area encompasses New York City, Long Island, and the surrounding areas of New York State, as well as parts of New Jersey and Connecticut.