Manipur violence: NAMTA submits Memo to PM Modi on US visit

 

NORTH AMERICAN MANIPUR TRIBAL ASSOCIATION (NAMTA)

 1302 East Collins Boulevard, Suite 111, Richardson, TX 75081

 namta.us | admin@namta.us

June 22^nd, 2023

 Shri Narendra Modi Ji

Embassy of India

2107 Massachusetts Ave NW

Washington DC 20008

Subject: Urgent Memorandum on the Plight of Kuki-Zomi 

Tribes in Manipur Dear Honorable Prime Minister,

We, the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA), write this memorandum to bring to your attention the critical situation faced by the minority Kuki-Zomi tribes in Manipur. With deep concern, we highlight the challenges they currently endure, necessitating immediate action from your government.

 

The minority Kuki-Zomi tribes in Manipur, are facing attacks from radical elements of the majority Meitei community, namely Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun. Since May 3^rd 2023, over 6,100 tribal homes have been burned and looted, 350 churches set ablaze and more than 115 villages attacked in the extended Imphal valley. Over a hundred lives have been lost, some brutally tortured, immolated, or subjected to rape. Many have been severely injured, and numerous individuals remain missing. More than 35,000 tribals have been displaced, and removed from Imphal which constitutes ethnic cleansing.

Regrettably, Chief Minister Biren Singh’s government has been unable to quell the violence. The Meitei attackers impersonate security forces, brandishing weapons looted from government armories or obtained from Manipuri police. Allegedly, ground-reports say Manipur security forces have either stood idly by or even participated in the violence. These incidents have resulted in severe human rights violations, including the right to reside in one’s ancestral homeland, freedom of religion and belief, the right to life, physical integrity, freedom of movement and residence, the right to security, and the prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment.

 

Considering these grave circumstances, NAMTA respectfully requests the following from your government:

 1)     Declare President’s Rule in the state of Manipur to provide impartial support for all essential services and security to all communities – tribals and non-tribals alike.

 2)     Constitute a Justice Committee from civil society in Manipur and neutral third-party personalities well- respected by all sides to account for every victim’s loss and thereby bring about peace.

 3)     Establish a separate administration for the Kuki-Zomi tribes under provisions mentioned in the Constitution of India.

We, at NAMTA, hold unwavering trust in your commitment and ability to safeguard human rights. Respectfully,

NAMTA and Members

  Contact: admin@namta.us https://namta.us/

 

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Manipur violence: NAMTA appeals US prez Biden

North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA) 

1302 East Collins Boulevard, Suite 111

Richardson, TX 75081 

https://namta.us/

June 12, 2023

The President of the United States of America, Joseph R Biden  

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500-0003 
United States of America

June 12, 2023

Subject: Appeal to President Biden to take cognizance of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and human rights violations in Manipur, India, and relay concerns to Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his state visit to the U.S.

 

Dear President Biden:

The North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA) would like to draw your serious and immediate attention to the ongoing ethnic conflict and humanitarian crisis in Manipur, India.

Specifically, we want to make an earnest appeal to you to take cognizance of the ongoing human rights violations of the Christian minority Kuki-Zomi tribes in Manipur, India. We believe that the United States is deeply committed to championing the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights driven by the founding values of our nation and the conviction that international peace, security, and prosperity are strengthened when human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected and protected. We appeal to you and your office to reinforce America’s continued commitment to justice by living up to its ideals at home and meeting its international human rights obligations.

 

The ethnic clashes began on May 3, 2023, between the non-tribal Meiteis and the Kuki-Zomi tribes as a consequence of long-drawn contestation over access to land and resources and the Meiteis long-pending demand for ‘Schedule Tribe’ status (ST) (‘affirmative action’) that the Constitution of India entitles to marginalized communities to benefits in jobs, educational institutions, and greater administrative autonomy, among other constitutional protections. While the largely Hindu Meitei community form about 60% of Manipur’s over 3.1 million population and mostly resides in the state capital of Imphal, the predominantly Christian Kuki-Zomi tribes constitute 25% of the population and mostly inhabit the hilly regions. The tribals have historical and ancestral relationships with the hills and are the traditional stewards of these forest lands.

Due to unequal power relations, the tribals are structurally disadvantaged because they lack access to social, cultural, and economic capital vis-a-vis the Meiteis.

 

As of June 12, 2023, over 100 lives have been lost, over 300 people injured, over 200 churches burned and desecrated, thousands of homes razed to the ground, and as many as 40,000 civilians have been internally displaced. While both the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities have suffered

losses due to the ethnic conflict, the Kuki-Zomis minorities have been unequivocally and disproportionately placed at the receiving end of the violence in terms of casualties, deaths, destruction of homes, properties, and forcible displacement. Furthermore, Kuki-Zomi women, children, and the elderly have experienced gender-based violence and atrocities through rapes, sexual assaults, immolation, and murders by Meitei vigilante groups comprising men and women.

 

Witness and survivor accounts allege that radicalized Meitei militia groups, such as the ‘Arambai Tenggol’ and the ‘Meitei Leepun,’ that operate under the pretext of cultural organizations are the masterminds behind the brutal violence perpetrated against the Kuki-Zomi people. Highly placed security personnel confirm that about 4000 weapons and 500,000 rounds of ammunition have been looted from various police stations in the capital city of Imphal, indicating alarming levels of state complicity in the perpetration of unprovoked attacks against Kuki-Zomi villages and ‘volunteers’ defending them. Witness and survivor accounts allege that radicalized Meitei militia groups, such as the ‘Arambai Tenggol’ and the ‘Meitei Leepun,’ that operate under the pretext of cultural organizations are the masterminds behind the brutal violence perpetrated against the Kuki-Zomi people. Highly placed security personnel confirm that about 4000 weapons and 500,000 rounds of ammunition have been looted from various police stations in the capital city of Imphal, indicating alarming levels of state complicity in the perpetration of unprovoked attacks against Kuki-Zomi villages and ‘volunteers’ defending them. In fact, the Meitei Leepun leader, Pramot Singh, has brazenly invoked a genocide threat against the Kuki-Zomi people in an interview with a veteran journalist, Karan Thapar, on national TV with unhinged impunity, indirectly incriminating the majoritarian state machinery and its patronage of Meitei militias.

 

Given the severity and urgency of the matter, we urge you to actively engage with the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, during his state visit on behalf of the

U.S. Many of our Kuki-Zomi immigrants from Manipur are law-abiding citizens, taxpayers, voters, lawful permanent residents, workers, or students. We have families, relatives, and friends killed, hurt, displaced, and rendered homeless due to the ongoing violence, and they continue to struggle for basic human rights-- the right to life and liberty.

 

We at NAMTA hold unwavering trust in the United States’ commitment to continuing its efforts to be a strong advocate for all people, nationally and globally, who suffer from discrimination, abuse, and oppression and a stalwart defender of justice on behalf of the unjustly persecuted. We also request your office, if possible, to appeal to the American embassies in India and affiliated stakeholders to assist in providing immediate humanitarian aid and assistance to the internally displaced Kuki-Zomi communities of Manipur, whose lives and livelihood continue to hang in the balance.

 

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to hearing from your office with great anticipation. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information or documentation.

 

With immense hope and gratitude,

 

Members of the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA)

Sources and news coverage of the Manipur ethnic conflict:

 

-          “A Rising India Is Also, in One Remote Pocket, a Blood-Soaked War Zone.” The New York Times. June 9, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/world/asia/india- manipur-conflict.html

-          “Meitei ‘Pride’ Group’s Threat—‘Kukis Mainly Illegal, Modi Must Intervene Or There’ll Be Civil War.’” The Wire with Karan Thapar. June 6, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDJnPewUhmU

-          “Manipur: Over 4,000 weapons snatched from armouries, Army ready with combing operation plan.” Deccan Herald. June 2, 2023. https://www.deccanherald.com/national/east-and-northeast/manipur-over-4000-weapons- snatched-from-armouries-army-ready-with-combing-operation-plan-1224316.html

-          CBI to probe if violence in Manipur was pre-planned. The Hindu, June 9, 2023. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cbi-to-probe-six-cases-hm-asks-naga-mlas-to- help-bridge-meitei-kuki-divide/article66947338.ece

-          “1 month into Manipur violence, death toll rises to 98; at least 310 injured, over 4k cases of arson.” The Indian Express. June 3, 2023. https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east- india/manipur/manipur-violence-death-toll-injured-8643494

-          “Our Daughters Were Killed in Imphal on May 5. We Haven’t Even Been Able to Retrieve Their Bodies.” Paotinthang Hangsing & Paolien Chongloi. The Wire. May 29, 2023. https://thewire.in/rights/manipur-imphal-violence-daughters-killed

-          “Manipur: 7-Yr-Old Boy, His Mother and Neighbour Killed as Mob Sets Ambulance on Fire.” The Wire. June 7, 2023. https://thewire.in/security/manipur-7-yr-old-boy-his- mother-and-neighbour-killed-as-mob-sets-ambulance-on-fire

-          “How Fake News Created Pretexts to Lynch Kuki-Zo Women in Manipur.” NewsClick. June 1, 2023. https://www.newsclick.in/how-fake-news-created-pretexts- lynch-kuki-zo-women-manipur

-          “IDs checked, skull cracked, ‘dumped alive’ in mortuary — 3 Kuki survivors recount Manipur mob horror.” Sonal Matharu. The Print. June 1, 2023. https://theprint.in/india/ids-checked-skull-cracked-dumped-alive-in-mortuary-3-kuki- survivors-recount-manipur-mob-horror/1604886/

-          “Can still feel the blows...Imphal murdered my family’: Manipur violence survivor recalls escape.” Newslaundry. June 1, 2023. https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/06/01/can-still-feel-the-blowsimphal-murdered-my- family-manipur-violence-survivor-recalls-escape

-          “Manipur Violence: Eyewitness Accounts | Students of Manipur University Tell Their Stories on News18.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtbH6zSdk-8&t=2s.

-          “Survivors’ Stories: ‘…they paraded them naked’-B Phainom Village, Kangpokpi district, Manipur.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UADlcoheNL8.

-          “Survival Story | English Subtitles | Agnes Neikhohat | Manipur Crisis,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHIdYYuWeBY

-          “Students recount how they escaped stick-wielding rioters in the Manipur University campus.” The Telegraph. May 10, 2023. https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/students- recount-how-they-escaped-stick-wielding-rioters-in-the-manipur-university- campus/cid/1935630

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ITLF: Rebuttal to Biren Singh on NE Live and other media outlets

 

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ITLF refutes allegation of World Meetei Council

 

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ITLF condemns bomb blast in Kwakta

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RPZI in frontline a antang hawmna sunzom

Date 21/06/2023 in Research & Preservation of the Zo Identities (RPZI) malakna nuai ah, Kangvai Area Frontline vehna nei ua, anntang hawmna toh thuah uhi. Huai hun in, khua 12 val pha ua, anntang frontline a duty-te kiang ah piakkhiakna va nei uhi. Anntang piakkhiakna mun a panlakna neite toh kihoulimna nei ua, amauten gam leh nam a dia pan alaknate thupi a sak thu uh gen uh hi.

Khua phak a omte:

1. Loklaiphai

2. New Zalenphai

3. K. Kotlian

4. P. Geljang

5. Mualngat

6. S. Lonphai

7. Heichanglok

8. N. Chingphei

9. Khousabung

10. Bunglon

11. L. Phainuon

12. Khoirentak

I biak Pathian in gam leh nam ittu di mi honpiak lai ziak in,RPZI a va kalsuanna tungtawn un Pathian phat uhi.

God bless RPZI!

-o-

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PASIAN THUPHATE(dangka) EKOLTU HIHNA ~ Rev. Thangdoulal Suantak

What does God say about how we deal with our money?

Eima neihsa dangka sum-le-paaite tawh kisai in Pasian in gen-le-sak a nei hiam??

THUPATNA

ENKOLTU i chih uh English ah “Steward” a kichi a, hih pen Eimah a hilou bang hiam sil khat etkolna tawh kisai a mawhpuakna neihna ahi.

•      Etsakna: I Hinna uh eimah a hileh kilawm napi in, ei a saang a hong pia Pasian a ahizaw hi. Eite’n bangchibang in hih Pasian hung piak hinna i zang ua? Chih pen a neipa Pasian tawh kisai mahmah hi.

•      Pasian economy ah Sum-le-paai pen vanhzak ahi a, hilezong leitung economy ah “money is a symbol of power,” a suak hi.

•      Tuni a Dangka sum-le-paaite na thununna nuai a na omsak kei leh, aman nang a hung thunun diing hi.

•      Ei Christiante’n double role hinkhua (Nek-le-taak, sum-le-paai zonna hinkhua leh biakna hinkhua, kibangloutak in) a kinei theikei hi. A neikha i om ua ahihleh, hichibang mi pen, Steward ahi theikei diing hi (Matthew 6:24). 

•      Neitu hihna leh enkoltu hihna pen a kigamla mahmah hi. Sil khat pouhpouh ah, neitu hihna i neih chiang in enkoltu hihna pen a bei a, hih in Eden huan a Adam leh Eve khelhna ah a hung tunpih kiik hi. 

 

PASIAN THUPHATE ETKOLNA
Financial Stewardship

•      I tuni dinmun uh pen, Pasian a hung kipan ahi a, Pasian in neih-le-lam (sum-le-paai) ah thupha hung pia hi.

•      Deu 8:18: Toupa na Pasian uh thei gige un, vaangletna leh hauhsakna hung pia amah ahi… Ps 112:3: A inn uah gou-gil leh hauhsakna a om diing a.. (Pasian laaudan siamte).. 1 Tim 6:17: Tu-khang a mihausate, a kisaktheih louhna diing uh leh hauhsaknate a kimuanpih louhna diing un thupia inla, Pasian a lam-etna ngazaw diing in gen in….

•  Neih-le-lam a thupha tampi ngahna in mihing hinna a manpha puam sak kei a, hilezong Pasian thuphate Enkoltu hihna ah, a mawhpuakna a liansakzaw hi.

• Pasian thuphate Enkoltu hihna ah, piakkhiatna (Zeekna) pen mawhpuakna poimawhtak ahi hi.

•      Job Thawngno in, “I zogam ah, numei in sum zeek a pasal in zong, “Z” veve diing in zong saang zeek ut-huaizaw,” chi hi. Tuni’n nang Pasian hung piak thuphate bang chiin na zeek sawm a? Pasian a diing mah in na zeek diam or Nang mimal a diing in?

BANG DIING A FUNDRAISE BAWL A, PIA UN- PIA UN, K’UNG CHIH UH E??

Khatna: Piakna ahihleh Biakna ahi

•      Ps. 96:8: Toupa kiang ah a min tawh kituak thupina pia un; silpiakte hung tawi unla, a huangsung ah hung lut un.

•      Pro. 3:9-10: Na neih na lamte uh leh na lou ua na gahmasate uh tawh Toupa zahtaak un; 10 tuahileh na anbuukte uh kiningchingtak in a dim diing a, na tuikuangte uh zong grepzu in a dimlet diing hi.

•      1 Chro. 29:10-16, … “Hilezong hih kiphalna silpiakte pe diing in, kei kua ka hia, ka mipite zong bang a leltak ua? Sil zousiah nang a pan a hung kipan vive ahi a, na neihsate mah hung pekiik hi ungh...”

•      LST mun 300 vaal ah silpiak tungtaang a kimu a, hih silpiak pen biakna leh kithoihna siangthou a tuat ahi.

•      Tuaziak in, “Toupa aw, hia’h ka om, keimah leh n’ung piaksa, dangka sum-le-paaite, na thupina diing in zangh in,” i chi thei diam??

Nihna: Piakna ahihleh Thumanna Nasep ahi.

•  Mal. 3:9-10: Kei n'ung suam ziak un, na nam pumpi ua—samsiatna a haamsiat na hi uh hi! 10 Ka inn a an a om theih na diing in, koihkhawmna inn ah na sawma-khat uh kimtak in hung tawi unla, hua tawh kei hung enchian un, gaalkaapte Toupa'n a chi; nou a diing a ka vaan tawlette hong in thupha kichingtak k'ung luangsak kei na hiam hung en un.

•     Lk. 6:38: Pia un, tuachiin piak in na om diing uh, sawndet in, hentaak in, tualeh letzen in na angsung uah piak in na om diing uh hi. Na tehna mah ua tehsak in na om diing uh hi.”

•      Silpiak in Pasian pen, sil zousiah tung a ahihna kilangsak hi. I silpiakte uh tawh Pasian i zahna uh i taklang uh hi.

•   Na silpiak in na Pasian muanna leh Amah na taaksapte hung piapa ahihna a kilangsak a, tua in, Amah kiang a na neih zousiah a na ki-aapna (surrender) phuangzaak hi.

Thumna: Piakkhiatna ahihleh thupha ngahna diing a lampi honna ahi.

•      2 Cor. 9:6-8: Hih ka gen ahi, a thehtawm in a attawm diing a, a thehtam in a attam diing hi. 7 Mi zousiah in a lungtang a atup bang in pia hen, it kawm kawm, ahihkeileh piaklouh theihlouh a ngai a pia hilou in, aziak Pasian in kipaktak a piate a it hi. 8 Tualeh Pasian in hehpihna zousiah na tung uah a hung vukthei hi, tuachia nou bangchiklai peuh in sil hoih zousiah a bukim a omzing in, nasep hoih zousiah na semthei diing uh hi.

•      Philippi 4:15-16,19: Tu in nou Philippite'n tangthupha a hung om chiil a, Mesidonia gam a pat ka paikhiat lai in, nou chihlouh, saptuam dang kuamah in piak leh lak lam thu ah bangmah in a hung kithuahpih kei uh chih zong na thei uh hi. 16 Aziak, Thessalonika khua ah zong ka taaksap panpihna nung khak kik zel uh hi. 19 Tualeh ka Pasian in Jesu Khrist a thupina a a hauhsatna dungzui in na taksap zousiah uh a hung pia diing hi.

Mi dangte thupha hi diing a thupha piak a omte i hi uh hi.

Toupa’n a thupha hung piata hen… Bye Bye!

 

 

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