A group of 112 citizens, including writers, filmmakers, economists, journalists, women’s rights activists and former civil servants, has issued an urgent appeal calling for an immediate halt to the widening violence in Manipur and the initiation of a credible peace process involving all affected communities.
The appeal, titled “Step Back from the Edge: A Citizens’ Appeal for Peace, Justice and Sisterhood in Manipur,” was released on Friday to coincide with the 51st anniversary of India’s Political Emergency. It was facilitated by the South Asian Solidarity Collective, Friends of the Earth India and the Delhi Solidarity Group.
Warning that the conflict has entered “a wider and more dangerous phase,” the signatories said violence that began in May 2023 as a Meitei–Kuki-Zo conflict has recently expanded to involve Naga and Kuki communities, cautioning that it must not be allowed to become “a war of all against all.”
The appeal said it did not seek to blame or shame any community but mourned victims from all sides. It called for the protection of civilians, release of detainees and hostages, tracing of missing persons, dignified return of mortal remains, humanitarian access, safe relief corridors, and the rebuilding of homes and educational institutions.
“This is not the time for competitive victimhood or collective blame,” the statement said. It added, “No political claim, historical grievance, ethnic wound, territorial dispute or religious identity can justify the killing of civilians, hostage-taking, attacks on places of worship, burning of homes, targeting of women, or collective punishment of any community.”
The signatories also acknowledged what they described as acts of restraint by community institutions, citing the intervention of Naga civil society in securing the release of 14 Kuki detainees despite heightened public anger. The appeal described the intervention as an example of responsibility prevailing over revenge.
Expressing concern over the broader implications of the conflict, the statement warned that prolonged violence could undermine decades of peace initiatives in the Northeast.
It referred to the Indo-Naga peace process, which began with the 1997 ceasefire agreement, as one of the region’s most significant political processes and cautioned that losing public faith in ceasefires and negotiations could push the region into deeper insecurity.
The appeal urged the Governments of India and Manipur to protect lives without discrimination, prevent armed mobilisation, recover looted and illegal weapons from all groups, investigate killings, ensure safe humanitarian access and rebuild public trust.
It also called for an impartial, credible and time-bound peace process involving Kuki-Zo, Meitei, Naga, Pangal, Hmar and other affected communities, with the participation of women, church bodies, tribal institutions, student organisations, human rights groups, displaced persons, youth representatives and independent mediators.
In addition, the signatories sought an independent judicially monitored investigation into major incidents of violence since May 2023, including killings, sexual violence, arson, attacks on places of worship, abductions, enforced disappearances, custodial abuse and the role of armed groups, state forces and political actors.
Among those who endorsed the appeal are filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, actor Suhasini Mulay, writer K Satchidanandan, former Planning Commission member Dr Syeda Hameed, former civil servant Harsh Mander, economist Amit Bhaduri, senior journalists John Dayal and Pamela Philipose, and several academics, activists and representatives of people’s movements from across the country.
Concluding the appeal, the signatories said: “Peace cannot mean silence. Justice cannot mean revenge. Fraternity and sorority cannot mean erasing historical grievances. Democracy cannot survive if communities are left to negotiate life and death through armed formations while elected governments and constitutional institutions fail in their duty.”