Foreign missionaries fuel unrest, division in Manipur: Report
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 03 2024:
The ongoing conflict in Manipur has taken on a new dimension, with claims that foreign missionaries have been fuelling the violence and deepening the ethnic divide between the Kuki-Zo-Chin groups and the Meetei community.
According to an article by media researcher Shruti Dasgupta, published online by The Jaipur Dialogues, the unrest in Manipur is not merely a case of ethnic tensions but is being exacerbated by external influences, specifically foreign missionaries.
The writing focuses on the activities of one such individual, Daniel Stephen Courney, a former US Army veteran, accused of spreading anti-India sentiments and promoting religious ideologies that contribute to the conflict.
The report alleged that Courney, who has been deported and blacklisted by Indian authorities in the past, continues to find ways to return to India through Nepal taking advantage of the visa-free system between the two countries.
His missionary work, framed as humanitarian aid, involves distributing food, blankets, and other essentials to the locals in Manipur while simultaneously preaching Christianity.
However, Courney's actions are seen as more insidious due to the anti-Hindu rhetoric accompanying his activities, which the article claimed is aimed at sowing discord between the communities and portraying the present government of India as a persecutor of Christians.
The central argument of the article is that these missionaries, under the guise of offering aid, are also spreading divisive messages that accuse the Meetei community of targeting Kukis.
Courney, the report said, downplays the presence of advanced weapons and drones used by Kuki militants and ignores the thousands of displaced Meetei people, instead framing the conflict as an issue of Christian persecution.
The article accused Courney of pushing a narrow agenda that simplifies the complex socio-political landscape of Manipur, portraying it as an instance of religious oppression.
Dasgupta's report highlighted the role of foreign missionaries in exploiting India's social fabric, stating that their activities not only violate visa regulations but also actively contribute to communal tensions.
Courney's inflammatory speeches, which paint the Government of India as a "radical Hindu regime", are said to further alienate local Christian communities in Manipur.
Churches in the region, according to the article, echo these claims, accusing the BJP government of ignoring the plight of Kukis and attempting to suppress Christianity.
The allegations against Courney are particularly concerning given his past.
He was deported from India in 2017 for similar activities and now resides in Nepal, from where he continues to engage in proselytisation efforts in India.
His connection to the arms trade and narco-networks operating through Myanmar is also hinted at in the report, with Courney being accused of assisting Kuki militants under the pretence of religious freedom.
Dasgupta argued that his involvement in the region's ongoing violence is part of a broader pattern of aggressive evangelism that poses a threat to India's internal stability.
The article called for stricter monitoring of foreign missionaries operating in conflict-prone areas like Manipur, where their activities have the potential to worsen the already fragile relations between communities.
The focus on religious proselytisation, combined with inflammatory political rhetoric, is seen as a dangerous mix that could further destabilise the region.
Dasgupta concluded by stressing the need for the Government of India and civil society to address these external threats more robustly.
She emphasised that while humanitarian aid is valuable, it must not come at the cost of spreading hate and division.
The involvement of foreign elements like Courney in manipulating local conflicts for ideological purposes, she argued, undermines India's pluralistic ethos and threatens the country's social harmony.
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