Since May 3, 2023, there has been an ongoing armed conflict in Manipur, North-Eastern India, in which over 120 people have died. The incident demonstrates the vulnerability of minorities, in this case Christian minorities, in India. This development comes after a longstanding ethnic conflict between the Kuki (mostly Christian) and the Meitei (mostly Hindu, but also Christian). Ground reports have likened the situation to that in a civil war, as civilians are using rifles and guns. In response, the state government has imposed a curfew and blanket internet shutdown, deployed an estimated 10,000 troops and paramilitary forces, and issued “shoot-on-sight” orders on May 4 to enforce the curfew.
The London Story strongly condemns the breach of article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), by the failure of the state and national government to intervene to quickly resolve the situation. In a region that is highly militarized and in which human rights abuses have occurred systematically for decades, the steps taken by the Indian government in response have only exacerbated the violence in violation of international human rights law.
The London Story is deeply concerned that the situation in Manipur will further escalate, leading to an exacerbation of the already ongoing humanitarian crisis in the North-East of India. The London Story is convinced that the situation requires an urgent response from the international community, which calls on the Indian government to act on its responsibility to protect human rights.