By Allen Brooks
Guwahati, Dec 10, 2024: A silent sit-in protest was held December 10 in Guwahati, northeastern India, to mark the International Human Rights Day and to express solidarity with the people of Manipur, who have been grappling with a prolonged ethnic crisis.
Prominent intellectuals, political leaders, and civil society representatives attended the event at Pub Guwahati Girls High School Grounds in the city.
They bemoaned that Manipur has been reeling under turmoil for more than a year and a half, with hundreds of lives lost and thousands displaced into relief camps, enduring harsh and uncertain conditions.
“Despite the dire situation, the central government remains largely indifferent. There has been no acknowledgment of the crisis in Parliament, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet to visit the state,” the participants regretted.
They voiced their concerns over the BJP government’s apparent lack of action and highlighted how Manipur reflects the broader state of governance in the country. They criticized the government for prioritizing electoral gains over people’s welfare, citing its divisive strategies, misuse of state machinery, and neglect of pressing issues such as communal tension, inflation, and unemployment.
“Manipur’s plight is a stark reminder of how indifference and political machinations can wreak havoc. The situation is volatile, and without immediate intervention, there is a real threat of this unrest spreading to other parts of the Northeast,” warned one of the speakers.
The gathering underscored the urgent need for unity among opposition political parties, civil society groups, and the general public to counteract the misgovernance and restore peace and stability in Manipur.
The participants observed a silent sit-in for an hour from 2 pm, holding placards that called for peace and normalcy in Manipur. The event marked a collective appeal to the federal government to take steps to address the crisis and ensure the restoration of harmony in the state.
The protest concluded with a call to action for citizens across the country to rise above political and communal divides and stand together for justice and human rights.
The gathering reminded everyone of their shared responsibility to uphold peace and dignity for all, particularly for the suffering people of Manipur.
The silent protest reminded the power of collective voices in demanding accountability and change, said an organizer. “On this International Human Rights Day, the message was clear: Manipur’s suffering cannot be ignored, and its peace must be restored,” he added.
The Church was represented by Archbishops John Moolachira of Guwahati, Chairman of the Assam Christian Forum and the NEI Regional Catholic Bishops Conference, and Thomas Menamparampil, former head of the Guwahati archdiocese.
Others present were Hiren Gohain, a leading intellectual of Assam; Bhupen Bora, president of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee; and Paresh Malakar, convener of the Axom Nagorik Shamaj (Assam Citizens Society).