'Interference In Internal Affairs': Huge Row Over World Evangelical Alliance's Event On Manipur Violence

The Indian government should work towards turning the country "into a more democratic, inclusive society and community.": This remark at an international event by Wissam al-Saliby, the director of WEA's Geneva office, has led to a massive controversy.

The remarks were made as part of a panel discussion organised in Geneva by an evangelical alliance on the Manipur violence. It has been widely condemned on social media over alleged "interference" in India's internal matters.

The discussion titled "The crisis in Manipur and implications for human rights in India" was hosted by the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) on the sidelines of the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday.

What was said at the meeting hosted by World Evangelical Alliance

The World Evangelical Alliance said at the event that Manipur has been seeing large-scale violence "primarily against the tribal Christian Zo people (Kuki, Zomi, Hmar tribes) that led to at least 180 deaths, rampant sexual violence, and hundreds of churches and thousands of homes that were demolished or burned down."

World Evangelical Alliance

Khuraijam Athouba, the spokesperson of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) - an umbrella body of Meitei civil society groups - got three minutes to speak at the end of the session. He alleged the discussion was "one-sided" and propagated the views of only one community.

"This is a forum of the United Nations, so everyone has a right to know the facts and truth to address what is happening in Manipur... When we talk about Hindu majority, we Meiteis in Manipur are not the majority... We represent around 8.5 lakh of the (state's) population. And the Christians in Manipur are around 12 lakh. They comprise more than 53-54 per cent," Mr Athouba said.

But he was interrupted by the moderator, who asked him to be quick. Mr. al-Saliby of the World Evangelical Alliance moderated the event.

Mr Athouba responded, "If you are narrating it in the wrong context, we need to check it out. Or shall we go with the wrong facts and continue this debate and discussion? What's your intention then? We need to check it out. The religion card was never an issue in the Manipur violence because the Meiteis never targeted Christians. There is also a huge population of Meitei Christians... They (panellists) missed informing that Meitei churches have been completely vandalised and razed in Kuki-dominated areas in Churachandpur right on the first day (of the violence) before violence broke out in Imphal."

AFP

Mr. al-Saliby of the World Evangelical Alliance, who moderated the discussion, then insisted that the session had to end.

"But allow me to speak. Let the audience know. Why are we completely neglecting the issue of narcoterrorism? The UNODC has already reported Churachandpur has become the hub of the new Golden Triangle... It is a completely one-sided discussion. It should be neutral," Mr Athouba said.

Interference in our internal affairs, alleges retd Lieutenant General

Lieutenant General L Nishikanta Singh (retired) posted on X (formerly Twitter): "'Break-India Gang' is at it again. Exploiting Manipur communal fault line, taken it up to the so-called 'UN Expert' panel to help migrants, who approached Germany, besides US, Israel, UN, EU, etc., for a separate country. All Indians must condemn interference in our internal affairs."

'Break-India Gang' is at it again. Exploiting Manipur communal fault line, taken it up to so called 'UN Expert' panel, to help migrants, who approached Germany, besides US, Isreal, UN, EU etc for a separate country. All Indians must condemn interference in our internal affairs.

¡ª Lt Gen L Nishikanta Singh (R) (@VeteranLNSingh) September 20, 2023

He further stated, "All patriotic Indians must condemn comment of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) on our internal affairs. What is their locus standi? They should focus on human rights & democracy in China, Afghan, Syria, etc. or racial abuse in many Western Countries."

Violence in Manipur

The violence in Manipur began in the first week of May after a rally by the indigenous communities (including the Kuki community) against moves to grant Scheduled Tribe status to the main ethnic group (Meiti) in the State.

Reuters

So far, 200 have been killed, and thousands from both communities have been internally displaced, according to official reports.

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