A Christian leader in Manipur, a state in northeast India, is pleading for help due to a warring tribe that is causing murder, desecration, and disruption of his people. The unnamed leader claims that members of the Meitei tribe are killing innocent women, children, pastors, and even civil servants among the Kuki and Zo tribes. According to the leader, the government has done nothing to stop the violence and has even sided with the rampaging Hindu tribals. He further explains that the Christian community is suffering from ethnic cleansing and genocide as Churches and Villages are burned down. Thus far, the conflict has killed at least 147 Christians, and injured another 220, with an additional 58 persons lost or not accounted for. The Manipur Christian leader stated that 170 villages have been destroyed, affecting 17 churches his organization has planted, and devastating 4,581 houses, and 93 Christian offices.
The conflict started when the Meitei tribe sought scheduled tribe status with the federal government. If granted, Meiteis would join around 30 other tribes in the area with scheduled tribe status, which allows land ownership in the hills. However, the World Council of Churches says that granting scheduled tribe status to the Meiteis, who make up 50 percent of the population, would render the constitutional and legal protection given to the marginalized tribals of Manipur…meaningless. The conflict began when Meitei tribe members attacked members of the Kuki tribe who held a peaceful protest against the proposal on May 3.
The Manipur Christian leader, who mainly works in church-planting ministry, reveals that he now focuses on relief and rehabilitation. He has already begun bussing many children outside the area for schooling. The federal government has done nothing, despite the conflict, which has left 100,000 people homeless and most now dwelling in 147 displaced persons centers. The government is dominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party, promoting Hindu values above all else. India is for Hindus has been its slogan.
