MIYC says war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 26 2024: The Manipur International Youth Centre (MIYC) has categorically stated that the sustained violence unleashed by Kuki terrorists against the Meitei community constitutes war crimes, genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Kuki terrorists used drones and missiles to target Meitei settlements, causing deaths, injuries, and significant property damage.

The deliberate targeting of civilians or civilian objects including homes, schools, and places of worship, constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law, specifically the Geneva Conventions of 1949 that amounts to war crimes under international law, the MIYC asserted in a statement.

The continuous attacks on civilian population, the burning of public properties and the misuse of ambulances for transporting armed Kuki terrorists constitute grave breaches of the Common Article 3 of the four Geneva Conventions, 1949, under International Humanitarian Law.

These acts are not merely terrorist tactics; they are crimes against humanity, it said.

In addition to war crimes, the violence against the Meitei community constitutes genocide, the MIYC asserted.

The Genocide Convention, adopted by the United Nations in 1948, defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

Reports of systematic violence, targeted killings, and destruction of cultural heritage sites could support claims of genocidal intent by Kuki armed groups against the Meiteis, it said.

The MIYC said that the international community has a responsibility to respond to these acts of atrocity and war crimes with urgency under the principle of the "Responsibility to Protect", commonly known as R2P norm.

Independent investigations by international bodies, like the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect are essential to determine the facts on the ground and hold those responsible accountable, it said.

Moreover, India, as a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, must take immediate steps to investigate and prosecute those responsible for war crimes, genocide and ethnic cleansing, the MIYC asserted.

It is deeply troubling that instead of mobilising the armed forces to take decisive action, there are calls for the involvement of IIT experts to study the nature of these drone bombings, it decried.

"If, hypothetically, China were to drop nuclear bombs on New Delhi, would we be assembling BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre) scientists to analyse the fallout? Would we form committees to investigate the source of such a catastrophic attack? Such notions are nonsensical and demonstrate a lack of urgency in addressing the real threats facing Manipur and India", it said.

It also asked why the Indian armed forces are not actively pursuing these Kuki terrorists and why they (Indian armed forces) are not protecting citizens.

The deliberate inaction raises uncomfortable questions about the commitment of Government leaders to safeguarding the lives of citizens and civilian properties.

It went on to ask, "Is India, as a Nation, turning a blind eye to the plight of the real indigenous peoples of Manipur�the Meitei, the Naga, and others�while focusing on the false Kuki narratives?" .

Questioning the inability of India, the fifth largest military in the world, to eliminate the menace of Kuki terrorism, the MIYC said that the ongoing turmoil in Manipur that erupted on May 3, 2023 has drawn attention to a potential conspiracy that seeks to prolong the crisis.

It is equally disheartening that the Prime Minister of India has not spoken out decisively in favour of peace in Manipur.

Leadership demands accountability, and it is the duty of the Government to stand with the innocent victims of this violence, it said.

The MIYC remarked that the long silence of the Prime Minister seems to reflect the geopolitical strategies of India in the Bangladesh-Myanmar(Burma)- China-India-Manipur borderlands and the cornering of the political armed opposition groups of Manipur.

The ongoing situation in Manipur requires not just a response but a comprehensive strategy aimed at restoring peace, mutual co-existence and addressing the underlying issues that have fuelled this conflict, it asserted.

The people of Manipur, as one man, demand immediate action from Manipur Government and the Government of India to protect the lives and rights of all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background, the MIYC said.

"We call for an end to the senseless violence and a genuine dialogue aimed at healing the wounds that have plagued Manipur for the last 16 months.

The innocent people of Manipur deserve nothing less than our unwavering support and protection, a future of mutual coexistence, peace and security", it added.

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