Manipur Violence: Meitei Community Staged Protest in US Amid Modi’s Visit

NEW DELHI: On June 22, Meitei community members from the Indian diaspora rallied in front of the White House in Washington to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step in and cease the ongoing bloodshed in Manipur.

Around 70 Meiteis, including 10 children, braved the rain to gather close to the Washington Monument to voice their concerns. They came from different sections of the United States.

The demonstration against the killings and continued violence in Manipur, which has persisted for more than 50 days, was attended by activists from cities like Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and others, according to the Association of the Meiteis in America (AMA). According to the AMA's statement, six Meiteis from Bangladesh also participated in the protest.

Placards with the slogans "Peace is possible", "Strongly condemn the violence," and "Ho Ima Manipur Nang Gumbi leite Ima" were used. Flyers with a call to action and a brief explanation of the current predicament are described.

On the other hand, the lack of inquiries about their group during the joint press conference with Biden and Modi disappointed members of the Kuki indigenous community.

Additionally, the North American Manipur Tribal Association (NAMTA) sent Biden a letter highlighting the condition of the marginalised Kuki-Zomi tribes in Manipur. The president was urged in the letter to act right away to prevent the problem from getting worse. NAMTA asked for Biden to take the lead in resolving the ongoing crisis and the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force while expressing their everlasting confidence in his dedication to upholding human rights.

The following are the demands of NAMTA:

1. Declare President's Rule in the state of Manipur so that all communities—both tribal and non-tribal—can receive unbiased support for all necessary services and security.

2. Assemble a Justice Committee made up of members of Manipur's civil society and impartial third parties who are well-respected by all parties to hold all parties accountable for their losses and promote peace.

3. Create a separate administration for the Kuki-Zomi tribes in accordance with Indian Constitutional principles.

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