Right narrative taken to Kerala
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 22 2023:
As renowned cyclist Rohan Philem presented the right narrative to the media in Thiruvanan-thapuram on the ground reality of the present ethnic conflict in Manipur, Christian Pastors in the city said it was an "eye opener" .
Addressing many Christian leaders including Pastors and Manipuris during at the Trivandrum Press Club before a host of media yesterday, Rohan said the conflict in Manipur is not based on religion and it has roots in illegal influx of immigrants from Myanmar and war against poppy cultivation.
He said the narratives that have been spinned over and over again among the Christians in Trivandrum and other places in mainland India are false for portraying the violence as Meitei Hindus attacking Christians.
He said Kukis who are mainly Christians have also burnt down Churches and houses of Meitei Christians apart from burning 393 Meitei Hindu Temples.
The burning of Meitei Christians' Churches and Temples by the Kukis were hardly covered by the National media, he said.
The Pastors and leaders of Churches in Trivandrum said Rohan's address to the media was an "eye opener" for the Christians and even invited him to speak on several platforms.
During the press meet, Rohan said Christians in Kerala have donated huge monetary assistance as humanitarian aid to the Kuki community in Manipur.
"However, there is suspicion that the same aid money may have been used by some to procure arms and ammunition.
We appreciate the Christians in Kerala for their humanitarian aid to the Kuki community, but the aid should be given in the form of goods/relief materials to curb unintended use of the aid money to buy arms and ammunition that may prolong the conflict," Rohan said.
Rohan further claimed that no Kuki Christian Pastors have responded positively to many requests raised for initiating peace talk to bring peace in Manipur.