Manipur Muslim body condemns violence, calls for urgent action for peace and justice

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 16, 2024

The United Meitei-Pangal Committee (UMPC), an umbrella organization representing Meitei-Pangal (Muslim) civil society organizations in Manipur, has strongly condemned the ongoing violence in the state, expressing deep outrage and concern over the deteriorating situation.

The committee has called for urgent action to restore peace and ensure justice for all affected communities.

In a statement here on Saturday, UMPC Manipur general secretary Raes Ahamed Tampak highlighted the devastating impact of the violence on lives and livelihoods, emphasizing the urgent need for dialogue and reconciliation to prevent further escalation. The committee appealed to the government and law enforcement agencies to take swift and impartial measures to address the root causes of the conflict and to provide relief and rehabilitation to the victims.

Tampak said:  “The brutal killings of three children and three women in Jiribam district are a tragic reminder of the horrors faced by innocent civilians. These heinous acts, among numerous others since the eruption of violence on May 3, 2023, have exacerbated the suffering of the people of Manipur.”

The UMPC said the inaction and lack of accountability from the Modi government over the past 18 months has allowed this crisis to worsen. The failure of the Centre and state government -which we have dubbed the double engine government – to ensure the security and well-being of its citizens has led to the escalation of violence, placing innocent lives in jeopardy. This situation is intolerable, and the government must be held accountable for its failure to maintain peace and ensure the safety of the people in the region.

“We believe that all citizens of Manipur, regardless of ethnicity or community, have an inherent right to live in peace, dignity, and safety. The current state of lawlessness, violence, and bloodshed is both unacceptable and unsustainable. We demand immediate and effective intervention from both the State and Central Governments to restore peace, uphold justice for the victims, and address the root causes of this crisis. It seems that there is no rule of law in Manipur, where the Kuki and Meitei communities are fighting with sophisticated weapons, and the other communities, including Muslims (Meitei-Pangal) and Christians (Nagas), are helpless, merely demanding the authorities to restore peace,” Tampak also said.

“The violence must stop. The lives of innocent civilians remain at great risk, and we implore the government to take swift and effective measures to halt the ongoing conflict and protect the people of Manipur. The current situation must be resolved through Political Dialogue, Peacebuilding, and the delivery of justice to the victims and their families,” he added.