More than 5500+ activists, academics, artists, bureaucrats, and ordinary citizens have come together to demand justice for the women in Manipur, particularly of the predominantly Christian minority Kuki Zo and other communities, who have endured brutal assaults.
The collective outrage was triggered by a viral video showcasing “unbelievable brutality” against Kuki women in Kangpokpi district, prompting questions about the Chief Minister of Manipur and the Prime Minister’s delayed response after more than 75 days of “deafening” silence.
In an open letter, the signatories insist that when a state’s chief minister admits on national television to hundreds of rapes and incidents of sexual assault under his watch, it is time for him to step down, as he has lost the moral right to govern.
The letter further condemned the suppression of truth, stating that when a fact-finding team of women’s rights activists visited Manipur in June 2023 and reported instances of sexual violence, instead of investigating and prosecuting the perpetrators, the Manipur state and police filed FIRs against the team.
Among the civil rights groups supporting the letter are Saheli Women’s Resource Centre, National Federation of Indian Women, National Alliance of People’s Movements, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, Mahiti Adhikar Manch, and Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, among others.
Additionally, international rights groups, including Indian Labor Solidarity (UK), Anti-Caste Discrimination Alliance (UK), North American Manipur Tribal Association (USA), International Council of Indian Muslims (USA), East Indian Defense Committee (Canada), and Internationalist (Brazil), have endorsed the letter.
Eminent academics, activists, and other personalities who have signed the letter include Annie Raja, Aruna Roy, Arundhati Dhuru, Manjula Pradeep, Nisha Biswas, Kavita Krishnan, Lamtinthang Haokip, Paul Thongkhomang Touthang, Ruth Manorama, Uma Chakravarti, Nivedita Menon, Nemthianngai Guite, Vineeta Bal, Anand Patwardhan, and Maya Krishna Rao.
The citizens’ demands are as follows:
· Immediate dismissal of N Biren Singh from the post of Chief Minister of Manipur.
· Ensuring social, emotional, physical, and economic rehabilitation of the survivors, protecting their dignity, privacy, and security from further harassment and violence, and providing them with legal assistance to pursue justice.
· Prompt arrest and prosecution of all perpetrators involved in incidents of violence against women, including those identified and reported by the survivors. Also, holding erring police officers accountable for complicity and enabling violence against women.
· Calling on the Supreme Court of India to establish an Independent Enquiry Committee to examine the scale of violence against women in Manipur and monitor the implementation of the rule of law.
· Allowing fact-finding, solidarity, and enquiry teams by citizens, activists, and civil society to visit Manipur and document these crimes without fear of state reprisal or police cases.
· Restoring internet services in the state and ending the internet/media blackout.
Mokokchung Times