They said they were appalled at the apathy of the authorities, both at the state and central government level, to stop violence and protect the tribes
DETROIT — The Michigan-based Indian diaspora and members from NAMTA, AANA, IAMC, CAPI and ICA in the United States have denounced the ongoing genocide against the Kuki-Zomi tribes in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.
In a press release issued on Sunday, they said the “constitutional commitment to the principles of liberty, fraternity and equality compels us to raise our voice against these atrocious acts of violence and oppression that have been ongoing for over three months where over 60,000 have been rendered homeless, 6200+ houses burned, 320+ churches burned and over 170+villages burned and decimated to the ground.”
They said they were pained to see videos in social media of women being paraded naked, gangraped, tortured and executed by self-styled firing squads and more. “There has been an internet ban for over two months in the region and we worry that more of these videos will come out once internet connectivity is restored.
India cannot call itself a democracy if it lets such genocide continue.
The principles of liberty, fraternity and equality must be upheld to substantialise the foundation of a just and inclusive nation. Today, we see those foundations being destroyed deliberately,” the press release said.
They said they were appalled at the apathy of the authorities, both at the state and central government level, to stop violence and protect the tribes.
“The Kuki and Zomi tribes, like many indigenous communities, have long endured historical injustices and discrimination. Today, they face an existential threat as evidence of violence, rape, and forced displacement emerges daily,” the press release said.
They demanded that the state and Central governments to uphold the constitutional values and take immediate action to protect the lives and rights of these tribes.
“Justice must be served, and the perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be held accountable for their actions. We call upon the international community and human rights organisations to join us in closely monitoring the situation in Manipur and providing support to safeguard the rights and cultural heritage of the Kuki-Zomi tribes,” the press release said.
