Appeal to Address Gross Human Rights Violations
- 18th November 2024 : Meitei Alliance -

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Memorandum to the United Nations

Subject: Urgent Appeal to Address Gross Human Rights Violations and Terrorist Atrocities in Manipur, India

To: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
CC: o Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women
o Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
o United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – Terrorism Prevention Branch
o UN Secretary-General António Guterres United Nations Headquarters, 405 East 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10017, USA
o National Human Rights Commission, India
o Human Rights Watch
o UNICEF India
o Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

From: Meitei Alliance [email protected]
www.meiteialliance.com

Introduction

We, the undersigned, urgently bring to the attention of the United Nations the heinous acts of terrorism and gross human rights violations occurring in Manipur, India. The recent atrocities committed by Kuki groups on Meitei community represent an extreme escalation in violence, targeting innocent civilians, including women and children, in the most barbaric manner. We seek the immediate intervention of the United Nations to address this crisis and ensure justice and security for the affected population.

Details of the Incident On November 11, 2024, six people were abducted from a relief camp in Borobekra, Jiribam of Manipur by Kuki terrorist groups on Meitei community. Their bodies were subsequently discovered in conditions that shock the conscience of humanity:
1. Victims (FIR No. 31(11)2024 BBK PS U/S 140(3)/313/3(5) BNS, 25(1-C) A Act):
o Yurembam Rani Devi (Female, 68 years)
o Telem Thoibi Devi (Female, 31 years)
o Telem Thajamanbi Devi (Female, 8 years)
o Laishram Heitombi Devi (Female, 25 years)
o Laishram Chingkheinganba Singh (Male, 2.5 years)
o Laishram Lamnganba Singh (Male, 8 months)

Details of the Atrocities:

o The 8-month-old boy, Lamnganba was found with his head smashed, part of it missing.
o The 2.5-year-old boy, Chingkheinganba’s body was discovered with his head and arms missing.
o The 8-year-old girl had her head smashed and showed suspected signs of multiple sexual assaults.
o The three women, including a 68-year-old, also showed evidence of suspected sexual assault before being killed.

2. Burning of Relief Camps: On the same day these innocent people were abducted, their relief camp was burned to the ground, leaving survivors without shelter or security.

3. Additional Murders: Two elderly male family members of the victims, Laishram Barel Singh (Male, 60 years) and Maibam Kishore Singh (Male, 70 years), were also killed, one was by the same terrorist group (FIR Ref: FIR No. 29(11)2024 BBK PS U/S 103/113(1)(a)(ii)/324(5)/313/332(a)/3(5) BNS & 25(I-C) A. Act). Laishram Barel Singh’s body was found almost 100% burnt.

These heinous crimes demonstrate a complete disregard for human life and dignity and highlight the systemic targeting of the most vulnerable populations who have already been displaced from their respective homes and taking shelter in a relief camp.

Inaction by the Government

Despite having several days to act and with more than 70,000 central security forces deployed in Manipur, the Indian government failed to rescue these victims or prevent their deaths. This appalling failure to protect innocent civilians, including an infant, underscores a lack of accountability and an alarming indifference to the escalating violence.

The ongoing inaction by both the central and state governments not only embolden these terrorist groups but also undermines the basic principles of justice, security, and human rights.

Gross Violations of International Human Rights

These atrocities constitute severe violations of international human rights laws, including:
o Convention on the Rights of the Child – The deliberate targeting and murder of infants and children.
o Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) – The systematic use of sexual violence against women and girls.
o Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – The right to life, dignity, and security has been utterly disregarded.

These acts also meet the threshold for war crimes and crimes against humanity as defined under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Appeal to the United Nations

Considering the grave situation in Manipur, we urgently appeal to the United Nations to:
1. Conduct an Independent Investigation:
o Establish an independent fact-finding mission to investigate these atrocities, identify perpetrators, and recommend actions to hold them accountable under international law.

2. Call for Immediate Action from the Indian Government:
o Urge the Government of India to take immediate and decisive steps to protect civilians, dismantle terrorist networks, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

3. Appoint a Special Rapporteur for Manipur:
o Assign a Special Rapporteur to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Manipur to the UN Human Rights Council.

4. Provide Humanitarian Support:
o Mobilize resources to ensure the safety and security of displaced populations in relief camps, with particular attention to the needs of women and children.

Conclusion

The atrocities committed in Manipur are a grave violation of human rights and dignity. The targeting of innocent children and women in such a barbaric manner is a stain on humanity. Inaction in the face of such crimes is not an option.

We urge the United Nations to intervene immediately to prevent further loss of life, restore security and dignity to the victims, and hold the perpetrators accountable. The world must not stand silent while such atrocities are committed.

Convener, Meitei Alliance

Meitei Alliance, founded in November 2023, is an alliance of Meitei diaspora associations in India (Association of Manipuri
Diaspora– Pune; Chennai Manipuri Forum; Delhi Meetei Co-ordinating Committee, Hyderabad Manipuri Society; Manipuri
Diaspora Association- Chandigarh; Manipuri Diaspora, Assam; Manipuri in Kolkata; Meitei Association – Mumbai; Meitei
Association in Sikkim; Meitei Heritage Society, Delhi; Manipuri Meitei Association Bengaluru; Mumbai Manipuri
Solidarity Group; Society for Meitei’s Chamber of Commerce, Assam; Takhel Leima Tengbang Lup; Tripura Meitei
Association), in Australia (Meitei Community in Australia) and UK, Europe, Canada, USA, and Nicaragua.