The archdiocese created a relief fund for victims of ethnic clashes between the Meitei and the Kiku. There are more than 45,000 refugees in makeshift camps. After the 60 deaths in recent days, a tense calm imposed by the army reigns in the 16 districts. Forty churches were attacked, including eight Catholic buildings in different locations. It is suspected that the crackdown on places of worship was planned. The Church in the front line for reconciliation.
Imphal () – “There is fear, uncertainty and a general feeling of despair.” This is how the Archbishop of Imphal, Mons. Dominic Lumon, the situation in the eastern state of Manipur, ravaged since May 3 by serious ethnic violence that has claimed at least 60 victims. He did so in a call for solidarity that he addressed to the archdiocese in view of the need to take measures to assist the thousands of displaced persons, a product of the devastation that affected homes and churches in the clashes between the majority Metei group (with a Hindu majority). and the Kiku group (almost all Christians) in this small border state with Myanmar inhabited by 3.4 million people.
In the city of Imphal and in the 16 districts where the curfew was imposed after the clashes in recent days, a tense calm imposed by the army reigns, but the wounds are deep. “Two communities are at war,” Monsignor Lumon wrote, “but the war has affected all Manipurians, regardless of which community they belong to. Many lives were lost, hilltop villages were vandalized, looted and burned .Thousands of people fled their homes and reached some refugee camps.About 45,000 people are in relief camps in the valley and on the hills.About 13,800 in West Imphal,About 11,800 in East Imphal,About 4,500 in Bishnupur, 5,500 in Churachandpur, about 7,000 people in Kangpokpi district. This information is based on daily press and our own reports, but the number could be higher. It is not possible to verify it on the ground because the situation is tense. It is also emerging an economic blockade. For this reason, the archdiocese called on the faithful to contribute by sending money to a fund or basic necessities for assistance.
“The situation is unstable. There is a tacit mistrust between all the communities in the state,” wrote the Vicar General of the Diocese of Imphal, Father Vargehse Velikakam, in a detailed report that he sent a few days ago to all the bishops of India. The text -accompanied by photographs of the devastation- reconstructs the violence and its causes. “The destruction has affected homes and private property on both sides. Many churches were targeted in various parts of the valley. Unconfirmed figures speak of more than 40 churches destroyed: the Catholic Church and its institutions suffered the fury of the mob in at least eight different places.”
“Newspapers report confirmed cases,” wrote Fr. Velikakam, “but the lives lost are many more. Thousands of people fled their homes and came to the camps. Many people, especially from the student community, were forced to leave Imphal, the state capital. The central armed forces are helping local government maintain law and order Whether state forces were outnumbered, outnumbered or complicit is hard to say The absence of security personnel where needed most raises troubling questions. Why were vulnerable places left unattended, even after the first attack attempts?”
The Vicar General of the Diocese of Imphal stated that even “churches that had no connection to the ongoing conflict became victims of the current riots. It cannot be excluded that some sections of the population have attacked with a deliberate motive. Many churches of the Meitei Christians were also burned down in various places. The number of attacks indicates the strong and active involvement of some fanatical groups under the pretext of preserving the indigenous customs, cultures, traditions and religion of the Meitei.” This suggests a “premeditated and planned” action.
“The healing process will take time,” notes Fr. Velikakam, wondering who will be able to initiate it, given the obvious responsibility of the local government. “The Church,” he concluded, “must calmly assess the situation and refrain from making too hasty decisions that could be considered biased. It must maintain neutrality and promote peace and unity.”
