Licypriya briefs EP members on Manipur crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 13 2023: Indian climate and environmental activist Licypriya Kangujam, a 12-year-old, engaged in discussions with members of the European Parliament in Brussels concerning the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

The conversation also touched upon the pressing issues of climate change and its impact on children.

In Brussels on Friday, Licypriya had productive closed-door meetings with select Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who had recently raised concerns about the violence in Manipur at the European Parliament.

During these meetings, she aimed to clarify and shed light on various aspects brought up by the MEPs.

Licypriya emphasised that there is a need to consider a more balanced perspective and avoid being swayed by a one-sided narrative, particularly regarding individuals involved in narco-terrorism.

This visit was part of her official European tour encompassing three nations.

While the discussions in Brussels were not officially scheduled on the parliamentary agenda, they marked a significant and historic first for the young climate activist.

Addressing the situation in Manipur, she mentioned that the government is actively taking measures to ensure peace, harmony, and law and order in the region.

Furthermore, she highlighted her efforts to provide free education to children who have tragically lost their parents in the violence.

Licypriya drew attention to the grim statistics of the ongoing turmoil in Manipur, revealing the devastating impact on children's education, homelessness, loss of lives, and the brutal murders of students.

She emphasised the urgent need for justice in these cases and for the overall situation in Manipur.

Regarding the broader context, Licypriya clarified that the violence in Manipur does not boil down to a conflict between majority and minority communities or between specific religious or tribal groups.

Instead, it is a struggle within the tribal communities, centred on the preservation of nature versus the destruction caused by the cultivation of poppy for drugs.

In her impassioned ad dress to European leaders, Licypriya pointed out the hypocrisy in advocating for a green future while engaging in actions that harm the planet and jeopardise the future of millions of children through warfare and environmental damage.

She called for genuine support in her fight for climate justice and urged the European Union to back her campaign to establish a free residential school for children affected by the violence in Manipur.

Additionally, she urged the European Union to champion the adoption of a "Loss and Damage Fund" at the upcoming COP28 in the UAE, holding affluent nations accountable for their inaction in addressing climate change.

Licypriya expressed her resolve to continue fighting for common causes.

This visit was part of her broader engagement with Europe, including an address to the people of Europe in Paris, France, an invitation by the Government of Italy as part of Expo Roma 2030 @ World Expo 2030, and an upcoming address at the United Nations World Food Forum 2023 closing ceremony in Rome, Italy on October 20 .

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