Licypriya urges Pope Francis to bring peace in Manipur
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 06 2023:
11 years old Indian cli-mate & environmental activist Licypriya Kangujam on Monday met Pope Francis at the Vatican City and appealed him to help in restoring peace in Manipur.
Licypriya briefed the Pope about the ongoing violence in Manipur and also submitted a memorandum requesting him to urge the rich nations to pay for the loss and damage caused by the climate crisis to the 'Global South'.
"Both Meetei and Kuki com-munities have suffered a lot.
Over 80,000 people from both the communities lost their homes and hundreds of people have died in the last one month.
Children desperately hope for peace.
We should live in peace and har-mony together," she said in her memorandum.
During her meeting with the Pope, Licypriya presented him with the Manipuri traditional 'Lengyan Phi,' it added.
During her five-day visit to Rome, Italy, she also addressed the Green and Blue Festival or-ganised by GEDI Group - the biggest media group in Italy on Monday as a part of observance of World Environment Day 2023 at the Colosseum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Licypriya was among five young people from all around the world picked up to meet the Pope at the Vatican.
In a statement, Licypriya said the Pope assured her of every possible effort to bring peace in the Indian state of Manipur.
He also encouraged the five young activists in their commitment to protect the environment.
Drawing attention to the ev-er-more violent natural disasters devastating the globe, the Pope urged the international commu-nity and all people of good will, to do their part in safeguarding our 'Common Home'.
Pope Francis said that all have a responsibility before God to protect the earth, under constant attack from dev-astating effects of climate change, which requires a concrete re-sponse by all.
Addressing the attendees at the Green & Blue Festival, Licypriya said, "Instead of spending billions of dollars in wars, if we spend it on ending poverty, giving education and fighting climate change, what a great place our earth would be! We just need to change our behaviours to save our planet." "I will build a free residential school for the victim children of both Kukis and Meeteis at Khongjom, Thoubal who have been affected by the ongoing vio-lence in Manipur with the help of the global support.
Our aim is to provide free boarding, free food, free dress and free books from Grade 1 to 12.This institution will be a symbol of peace to the whole world.
It will soon be realised," she added.
The release further mentioned that Licypriya will be traveling to Paris, France from June 19-24 to attend a meeting convened by the French President Emmanuel Macron and will travel to Kiga-li, Rwanda next month to meet several African leaders, Nobel laureates and top United Nations officials to help in restoring peace in Manipur.