IT News
Imphal, Sept 26:
A statement from the Manipur International Youth Center (MIYC), a severe act of violence took place in Manipur on Sunday, September 1, 2024, when Kuki militants reportedly launched drone bombings targeting civilian areas and properties. The attack, which occurred on a day usually marked by peace, has intensified the ongoing conflict in the region, leaving numerous casualties and widespread destruction in its wake. The MIYC noted that the use of drone technology signaled a significant escalation in violence and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of India’s defense mechanisms in safeguarding its citizens.
Reports from local sources indicated that several Meitei settlements were struck by the drone attacks, resulting in multiple deaths, injuries, and substantial damage to homes, schools, and religious buildings. The MIYC condemned the deliberate targeting of civilians, stressing that such actions are clear violations of international humanitarian laws, specifically the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which prohibit attacks on non-combatants and civilian infrastructure. The escalating conflict, the organization warned, is edging closer to a humanitarian crisis, with potential war crimes being committed.
Human rights advocates have also raised alarms, calling for urgent international intervention. They pointed to the systematic violence, including the burning of public property and the alleged misuse of ambulances by Kuki militants to transport armed combatants, as further breaches of the Geneva Conventions. These acts, they argued, disregard fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, which are intended to minimize civilian harm during conflicts.
Experts have reportedly labeled the violence against the Meitei community as genocidal, aligning it with the definition of genocide under the United Nations Convention of 1948. The targeted killings, destruction of cultural heritage, and widespread attacks on the Meitei ethnic group have fueled calls for immediate international attention and action to prevent further atrocities.
In a recent address to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Khuraijam Athouba, the Working President of the International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA), reportedly highlighted the increasing use of drone bombings by Kuki militants. He emphasized the need for independent international investigations to verify the facts on the ground and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
Despite the deployment of over 60,000 Indian troops in the region, there appears to have been limited progress in curbing the violence. This inaction has sparked public debate regarding the Indian government’s priorities, with some questioning whether geopolitical interests in the volatile Northeast, bordering Bangladesh, Myanmar, and China, are overshadowing the safety of indigenous communities such as the Meiteis and Nagas. Conspiracy theories have also surfaced, suggesting that some stakeholders may have vested interests in prolonging the conflict.
The MIYC expressed concern over the involvement of IIT experts to analyze the drone bombings, which some have criticized as an inappropriate response to such a pressing security issue. Critics argue that immediate military action is necessary to neutralize the militant threat and secure the affected areas, rather than relying on academic studies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue has also come under scrutiny, with increasing demands for a stronger, more decisive response from the central government. Observers have pointed out that a comprehensive strategy is essential to restore peace and address the underlying causes of the conflict, which has ravaged the region for over 16 months. The prolonged violence, they argue, has not only claimed lives but has also deepened ethnic divisions, endangering the fragile social fabric of Manipur.
As the situation worsens, the call for immediate government intervention has grown louder. Citizens, including the MIYC, have urged both the state and central governments to take decisive action to end the violence, restore peace, and protect the lives and rights of all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background. The people of Manipur, they stressed, deserve a future of coexistence, security, and mutual respect.
