NY senator seeks UN intervention in Manipur crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 06 2023: New York State Senator Kevin Thomas, the first Indian American elected to the state's Senate, wrote a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres urging the United Nations (UN) to take immediate action to address the escalating human rights crisis in Manipur, India, which has caused widespread devastation, leading to a humanitarian catastrophe with tragic consequences.

According to reports like the BBC and the United States Institute of Peace, the ongoing violence between the Kukis and Meiteis in Manipur has resulted in over 130 fatalities and the destruction of at least 1,700 buildings.

This turmoil has also forced over 60,000 individuals to abandon their homes, seeking refuge in relief camps across the region.

The alarming figures are expected to rise if the hostilities persist, the Senator wrote in his letter dated August 3, 2023 .

The Senator also quoted UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk, who emphasised the gravity of the situation during his opening remarks at the UN Geneva on May 24, 2023.He drew attention to the underlying tensions between different ethnic groups in Manipur, urging authorities to act swiftly and fulfil their international human rights obligations by investigating and addressing the root causes of the violence.

As the world commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is disheartening to see well-documented and unacceptable acts in Manipur that stand, in stark contrast to the Declaration's principles of freedom, justice, and peace, the Senator mentioned in his letter.

Senator Kevin Thomas also called upon the UN Human Rights Council to convene a special session to initiate an urgent dialogue process involving all parties concerned.

This move is intended to foster mutual understanding and pave the way for peaceful means to address grievances.

The UN's intervention and mediation could play a crucial role in achieving a resolution that upholds the rights and dignity of all individuals and communities involved, he added.

As the crisis continues to unfold, the eyes of the world are on the UN to take proactive steps towards restoring peace and safeguarding human rights in the troubled region.

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