Memorandum to Prime Minister during his official visit to the United States
- September 22nd, 2024 :: North American Manipur Association -

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To:
Shri Narendra Modi
The Honorable Prime Minister of India

Cc: Shri Vinay Kwatra
The Honorable Ambassador of India to the United States
Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.

From: North American Manipur Association (NAMA)
Date: September 22, 2024

Subject: Urgent Request for Your Personal Leadership in Resolving the Manipur Crisis

Honorable Prime Minister Modi,

We, the members of the North American Manipur Association (NAMA), extend our best wishes to you for a successful visit here in the United States. Your leadership in representing the people of India and advancing India’s interests, particularly at the important QUAD Leader’s Summit and your meeting with President Joe Biden to strengthen India US bilateral relations, is a matter of immense pride for us all. We are confident that under your guidance, India’s role on the global stage will continue to grow in strength and significance.

NAMA, a non-political and secular organization dedicated to fostering and promoting the social, cultural, and educational heritages of the people of Manipur in North America, has been working for more than 30 years to defending any just cause affecting Manipur and its people irrespective of community and origin. As you embark on this significant international engagement, we wish to draw your attention to the ongoing crisis in our home state of Manipur, which has persisted since May 3, 2023.

Despite several efforts, the situation remains critical with hundreds of people killed, over 60,000 people displaced for more than 16 months and violent clashes continuing to tear apart the social fabric of the state. The need for your immediate and personal intervention is now more urgent than ever. The people of Manipur are enduring immense hardship, and we firmly believe that your direct and personal leadership is essential to bring an end to this crisis. A visit from you to the state would be a powerful symbol of your commitment to achieving lasting peace and restoring hope to the affected communities.

The Situation Demands Your Urgent Attention:

1. Preservation of Territorial Integrity of Manipur and National Security: The territorial integrity of Manipur is under serious threat, and the ongoing unrest poses a grave challenge to India's national security. We urge you to personally intervene to ensure the state's borders are protected and the integrity of Manipur is maintained.

2. Restoring Peace and Stability: The recent escalation in violence, involving reported use of advanced weaponry like drones and rockets, is deeply concerning. We respectfully urge you to take immediate and decisive action to establish a ceasefire, restore law and order, and disarm all involved parties. Your leadership is essential in bringing about peace and stability.

3. Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): More than 60,000 people, including a significant number of women and children, have been displaced for over 16 months now, living in appalling conditions. It is essential that these IDPs are given a clear path to return to their homes with dignity and security. We respectfully call for your leadership in accelerating their rehabilitation and ensuring their safe return to their homes. Your immediate intervention is crucial in addressing this urgent humanitarian crisis.

4. Appeal for Stable and Reliable Access to Internet and Other Essential Services: The intermittent and continual interruptions to internet services continue to have crippling effects on students, professionals, and the wider community in the state. We sincerely urge you to take the necessary steps to ensure consistent and reliable access to these essential services, as they are critical to the well-being, productivity, and overall progress of the state's citizens.

5. A Comprehensive and Transparent Peace Process: A lasting solution will only be achieved through an inclusive and transparent dialogue that involves all communities and stakeholders. Your presence in Manipur, along with a direct call for peace, will send a powerful message that all voices will be heard and respected. We believe that your personal involvement is essential to initiating a meaningful reconciliation and fostering lasting harmony.

6. Investigation into Foreign Infiltration, Drugs, and Terrorism: The conflict has highlighted the need to address concerns on challenging issues such as foreign infiltration, the drug trade, and terrorism. We respectfully request you to initiate a comprehensive investigation into these issues, as they have the potential to affect not only the safety of Manipur but also the stability of the entire region, posing a challenge to national security. Your leadership is essential to ensuring these serious concerns are thoroughly investigated and addressed in a non-partisan manner.

7. Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Promoting Healthy Dialogue: We respectfully urge your esteemed office to take necessary steps to protect and safeguard the fundamental right to freedom of expression. In these times, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives can be shared openly without fear is essential to finding true common grounds. By encouraging healthy and constructive dialogues between various groups of the community, we can build a foundation of mutual respect and understanding, and a path toward finding enduring solutions. Your commitment to these values will not only preserve this vital freedom but also strengthen the fabric of our democracy.

Your Visit: A Symbol of Commitment to Peace

Honorable Prime Minister, we sincerely believe that your personal visit to Manipur would serve as a watershed moment in this crisis. It would be a symbol of hope for the people of Manipur who are suffering and a signal to the entire nation that Manipur's plight is being addressed at the highest level. Your presence would not only inspire confidence in the peace process but also reassure the people that their voices are being heard, and their future is being safeguarded.

The people of Manipur desperately need to see their Prime Minister stand with them during this time of hardship. Your visit would galvanize efforts towards a peaceful resolution and demonstrate that India, under your leadership, is committed to securing a peaceful, united, and stable Manipur. Conclusion Honorable Prime Minister, the time for action is now. The situation in Manipur is growing more urgent by the day, and the people cannot wait any longer. We respectfully request you to personally intervene, visit the state, and initiate an inclusive peace process that involves all stakeholders.

Your leadership is essential to securing the future of Manipur and ensuring the security of the entire nation. Your leadership has the potential to end this prolonged conflict and bring lasting peace to a region that has suffered far too long.

Once again, we extend our best wishes for your successful engagements with President Biden, your leadership at the QUAD Leader’s Summit, and your address at the Summit of the Future. We remain hopeful that your commitment to peace and security will also bring lasting resolution to the challenges faced by Manipur.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Thoihen Heisnam
President of NAMA

On behalf of
The North American Manipur Association (NAMA) namaonline.org