The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), while appreciating the European Parliament for raising the ongoing Manipur violence and passing the first-ever resolution on Manipur, stated that the parliament has missed out the core issue of narco-terrorism, which is fuelling the conflict.
In a letter addressed to Roberta Metsola, president, The European Parliament, Jeetendra Ningomba, coordinator, COCOMI, stated that the parliament’s proactive approach in demanding action from the Indian Government to address the crisis is highly appreciated.
"The Resolution is significant considering the deafening silence of the Prime Minister of India as we have been experiencing on the matter... However, it is regrettable to note that the core issue of narco-terrorism, which is fuelling the conflict, seems to have been omitted from the Resolution you have adopted,” Jeetendra stated.
The Parliament’s "Resolutions were guided by wrong and misleading perspective which made you arrive at a flawed understanding of the issue in Manipur as a conflict between Christian minority and majority Meetei Hindu,” he said.
Pointing out that the “recent violence that erupted in Manipur was not on religious line,” Jeetendra stressed that it was between immigrant Chin-Kuki Narco-Terrorist Groups and indigenous Meetei communities of Manipur.
Hundreds of churches belonging to about 25 ethnic communities in the state are still standing tall and performing their services in the heart of Meetei-dominated areas, including the capital city Imphal, he said.
Many Christian ethnic communities except Chin-Kuki groups are still settled in Imphal and other Meetei-dominated areas and living together in harmony, he added.
“Please note, 1,70,000 Meetei population are also Christian which is 35 per cent of the total Kuki Christian population in Manipur,” Jeetendra wrote to the European Parliament, adding that “the first ever Christian convert in Manipur is also a Meetei and their descendants are still Christian”.
Jeetendra continued that 100 per cent of the Meetei, including Meetei Christian are being ethnically cleansed from the Chin-Kuki Christian-dominated areas namely Churachandpur, Saikul and Kangpokpi districts in Manipur on May 3 and 4, 2023 by Chin-Kuki Christians only.
He maintained that 100 per cent of the Meetei religious centres in the Kuki-dominated hill areas are being completely destroyed and wiped out. Every Meetei Hindu and Sanamahi dwelling houses three important temples or place of worship (Lainingthou Sanamahi Kachin, Ibenthou Emoinu and Sagei Apokpa Temple) which is quite different from the Christian set up of Churches for each colony. So, when a Meetei house is being burned down, it includes three important temples of worship, he stated.
“Considering the above factual context and circumstances, we would like to draw your attention to give more focus on the issue of the Chin-Kuki Narco-Terrorism which has direct relation to the ongoing violence in Manipur. Because the prevalence of narco-terrorism and its finance capital to usurp political power and democratic institutions has had a significant impact on the polity and harmony in Manipur,” the COCOMI coordinator wrote.
“We feel that the acknowledgement of the involvement of the narco-terrorists in the present situation in Manipur in your Resolution would have provided a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges we face in the India-Myanmar borderlands,” Jeetendra continued.
Moreover, it is crucial to consider the broader context and the pressing issues that has shaped the present violence in Manipur, Jeetendra wrote, adding that emerging narco-terrorist activities and establishment of a narco-economy (Indian Intelligence Bureau Director reports estimated the total amount to 50,000 crore or 500 bn INR to 65000 crore or 650 nn INR annually) inside the territory of Manipur primarily operated and managed by the armed (illegal) immigrants and their drug cartel syndicates in India from Myanmar belonging to Chin-Kuki tribes who are Christian is the main cause of the ongoing violence in Manipur. A thick, dense, and lush green forest area of about 125,000 acres (90 per cent in Kuki-dominated areas) is being completely deforested for opium poppy cultivation, and its estimated production of opium is about 500 MT (Metric Ton) to 625 MT annually, he added.
Important points to note are that the Chin-Kuki tribes in Manipur are Christians, and they are the main community indulging in poppy cultivation, opium production and drug trafficking from across the border from Myanmar to India, Jeetendra wrote.
The Chin-Kuki are using their dominated or inhabited areas as a warehouse and transit for all sorts of illegal drugs and (small) arms trafficking, he further wrote.
Jeetendra continued that all necessary infrastructure and network for institutionalizing the narco-economy is being set up in Manipur like armed militants, poppy farms, illegal immigrant settlements, and massive deforestation, and establishment of illegal villages are a threatening reality in Manipur.
This alarming development creates a highly volatile socio-political environment where a small spark can quickly escalate into an inferno, Jeetendra told the European Parliament.
He further mentioned that there is a need to recognize the geo-political factors at play, including the political instability in Myanmar, the clandestine narco-economy, and the ethno-nationalist mobilization of the ‘Chin-Kuki-Mizo’ ethnic armed groups that has the potential to destabilise the ethnic harmony and co-existence in the borderlands of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Chin-Kuki ethno-nationalism has not only affected harmony in the Chin state of Myanmar, Mizoram, and Manipur in India, but also the Chittagong Hill Tracks of Bangladesh, he added.
Jeetendra then requested the president of the European Parliament to consider the aforementioned pertinent concerns and continue to champion the cause of peace, stability, and justice in Manipur.
“Your unwavering support and influence are vital and the people of Manipur anticipates that the European Union shall live up to its responsibility and play a non-partisan active role in resolving the ongoing crisis, and do not let a New Golden Triangle emerge in the region, particularly in Manipur,” Jeetendra added.
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