Joychandra Konthoujam on Manipur crisis at Thayong Christmas event

A joint Christmas celebration was conducted at Thayong Village on Thursday, during which the villagers, worshipers, as well as the village leadership, came together. The ceremony started at 1 pm, and this represented the commencement of celebrations for Christmas in the year 2025 in the sense that the village observed the holiday.
The programme was organized by Thayong Village, with the Justice Committee, Kuki Union Manipur, as special guests. Jaychandra Konthoujam, Chairman of the Justice Committee, was the chief guest, along with the presence of Serto Ahao, President of Kuki Union Manipur, as a guest of honour. The programme was presided over by Village Chairman & Chief M Achung Kom of the village, shedding light on the significance of the programme for the villagers.
Jaychandra Konthoujam, addressing the gathering, extends Christmas wishes to everyone and hopes that “peace will reign supreme in Manipur”. Speaking about the birth of Lord Jesus Christ, referred to as ‘Prince of Peace’, he said that “the message of Christmas challenges us to introspect upon truth, justice, and righteous deeds. We are also caught in a situation where people of Manipur are facing immense sufferings, especially internally displaced people who have lost homes, belongings, and means of livelihood, besides others living in relief camps”.
“To only say that the people are suffering is not enough,” he quoted. “Efforts are needed to achieve peace. Peace has to be established on the basis of truth and justice. Permanent peace cannot be established based on falsehood,” quoting the teaching of Jesus Christ, “They shall know the truth, and the truth shall make them free.”
“We have to live on the basis of truth and righteousness,” and so, there is hope, the Manipur Prelate expressed.
The political situation in the context of the crisis in Manipur was also addressed by Jaychandra Konthoujam, who added that this situation is connected with the foreign policy goals of India, including issues in relation to Myanmar, resisting Chinese influence, and also the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project. The prolongation of the crisis in Manipur, he also alleged, was owing to the involvement of ‘Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists’.
He appealed to all indigenous peoples of Manipur to come together and stand up against divisive forces. He appealed to well-meaning individuals and people in positions of power to be responsible and act in good faith for the larger good and not act on politically and personally motivated impulses. He stated that what is guided by the larger interest of this land and its people will build a better future for Manipur.