Organization for Indian Women Against Crime urges Kuki women, women organisations to come forward
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 16 2023: Highlighting the futility of warfare, the Organization for Indian Women Against Crime (Women Against Crime) has urged Kuki women and Kuki womens' organisations to come forward and help rein in the violence, stop the war and arrive at a common understanding.

According to a statement issued by Women Against Crime, a press conference was organised by the association at its Canchipur office today.

Speaking on the occasion, A Robita Leima, secretary, Women Against Crime pointed out the devastating effects of the violence on both the warring communities while adding that numerous displaced people will be impacted by the razing of their houses and loss of livelihoods until their dying day.

Notably, she highlighted the political aspirations of the Nagas and maintained that the Naga community have always laid down their demands before the Government and never launched a targeted attack on the Meitei community.

Similarly, the Meitei community have also had confrontations rife with rubber bullets and tear gas shells with the State Government and its law enforcement agencies regarding various social issues.

Thus, she urged the other community to place their demands before the State Government instead of 'attacking' the Meitei community as it will not bring any solution.

N Ganga, advisor, Women Against Crime also stressed on the crimes committed against women during the ongoing conflict.

Condemning such incidents, N Ganga claimed that there are many eye witness accounts of Meitei women being openly raped on the roads of Churachandpur.

However, as a result of the intense trauma suffered by these victims due to the incident, combined with the pain of losing their homes to arson, being reduced to living in relief camps coupled with fear and shame, has stopped many of them from coming out in the open, Ganga said.

Assuring the support of Women Against Crime, N Ganga urged these women to have courage and narrate their tales of horror while adding that the people of Manipur will stand beside them in support.

She also appealed against using womens' bodies as tools of warfare in the future.

Lastly, she invited the Kuki women to come forward and help them in putting a stop to the ongoing conflict.

"Let all womenfolk unite and stop the violence", she reiterated.

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