Persecution of Minority Tribals: Reclaiming Rights and Justice in Manipur

The session was aimed to:

●     Raise awareness and equip students with facts and figures on tribal persecution in Manipur

●     Draw attention to the continued violation of civil and political rights/human rights of the people of the affected communities

●     Urge the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to act decisively to implement President’s Rule in true spirit

The discussion brought together the insights and lived experiences of academics and public intellectuals, activists, and UK based community leaders and highlighted the urgent need for justice and accountability.

Since 3 May 2023, Manipur’s ethnic state-sponsored pogrom has claimed the lives of over 220 tribals,  including women and children. More than 45,000 tribals (at least 20% of our population) have been internally displaced; most with only the clothes they were wearing and are simply surviving in makeshift 193 relief camps. The Indian government led by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has systematically failed to ensure even the most basic securities for its citizens in Manipur state. With his silence, Narendra Modi is tacitly endorsing the ongoing violence spearheaded by the current Manipur Chief Minister Mr N Biren Singh.

The UK government has not responded in any way to this crisis, although it is fully aware of the danger it posed to people travelling to Manipur, India. On the GOV.UK webpages for travel advice, the FCDO continues to advise against all but essential travel to the state of Manipur`(https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india).

The British Prime Minister, Kier Starmer’s silence clearly indicates his endorsement of the crimes committed by his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both governments are turning a blind eye to the genocide of innocent people and horrific crimes against humanity being perpetuated on the minority tribal communities in Manipur. 

More details about Manipur crisis available from these sources:

1. The New York Times - A Rising India Is Also, in One Remote Pocket, a Blood-Soaked War  Zone 

2. CNN-NEWS - Manipur Violence News | National Highway 2 Blocked Again Amid Fresh Violence  

3. The Times of India - Clamour for peace as fresh violence rocks Manipur 

4. Indian Express - Manipur clashes find mention in UN human rights commissioner Volker Turk’s  statement 

5. Manipur Files: Where does the buck stop? By Rajdeep Sardesai

6. Social media - #ManipurViolence #ManipurBurning #SeparateAdministration  #Manipurisburning #farewellmanipur 

We are handing over recording of the event via this YouTube link https://youtu.be/Z7VvT_oy7sQv. As always, we hope that clips of the content are used to help stop the violence and bring justice and peace in Manipur.

We also request that the discussion in its entirety should be aired on all our local channels if it helps to bring some comfort to our people in this terrible time, and for them to know that they are not alone

*Unau Welfare UK is an association of tribal communities from Manipur formed in December 2016 in London, UK.  ‘Unau’ means ‘brothers and sisters’ and is a common term used across the different tribes in Manipur and Mizoram  states in India.