(Photo: Associated Press/Alamy)
In a desperate plea for survival, tribal leaders from Manipur, India, have reached out to the UK’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief. They seek international intervention to combat the ongoing anti-Christian violence that has ravaged their communities.
The crisis, which erupted two years ago, saw Hindu mobs destroy 360 churches and 7,000 Christian homes, resulting in over 200 fatalities. The violence has left 60,000 Christians internally displaced, unable to safely return to their homes.
Efforts to document the atrocities have been spearheaded by the Kuki-Zo tribal church leaders, who have submitted a detailed report to UK Envoy Ben Smith MP and other foreign office officials.
Rev Kailean Khongsai, originally from the Kuki-Zo tribe and now ministering in Harrow, lamented the ongoing suffering: “The crisis in Manipur shows no sign of healing, even under President’s Rule from Delhi. Each day, I hear the sorrow in the voices of my parents, relatives, and church community—echoes of pain, fear, and despair. Many have lost hope, their future now a blur of displacement and grief.”
Rev Khongsai painted a grim picture of life for his community, describing them as isolated from essential services, despite the government’s awareness of their plight. “We need the world to see us, hear us, and help us survive. For nearly two years, thousands of us have lived in unbearable conditions—displaced, forgotten, and stripped of dignity,” he stressed.
The dire conditions extend to children growing up in camps without education and the sick lacking medical care. “Children grow up in camps without education. The sick suffers without medicine. The grieving bury their loved ones without answers. How long must we wait?” he questioned.
In response to the report, British government officials acknowledged the severity of the Kuki-Zo situation, recognizing it as a “priority issue” and noting that the report could enhance understanding of the region, which remains largely inaccessible to foreign visitors.
Rev Khongsai further shared conversations with fellow Christian leaders from Manipur, emphasizing their despair: “One pastor, his voice trembling, asked, ‘How can we return to the Imphal valley? How can we step foot in our villages while Meitei radical groups roam freely? Who will protect us when Prime Minister Modi remains silent, and the former Chief Minister—accused of sparking this violence—still walks free and admired?’”
The appeal to the British government is clear: condemn the injustices and exert pressure on the Indian government to ensure the safety and support of the persecuted tribal communities.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
