Europe calls on India to “quickly end the ongoing ethnic and religious violence in Manipur”
"Our message must be clear: we will not turn our heads away from violence and we will not turn our backs on persecuted Christians."
On July 13, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on India and the situation in the state of Manipur, in the context of the violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki ethnic communities since May 3.
The clashes left "at least 120 dead, displaced 50 people and destroyed more than 000 homes, more than 1 churches and several temples and schools", reads the Parliament's resolution which considers that "intolerance to against religious and belief minorities, including Christians, contributes to this violence".
The parliamentarians reveal that "testimonies show the partisan involvement of the security forces in the killings", specifying that this "reduces confidence in public authorities".
Thus, the European Parliament "urges the Indian public authorities to take all necessary measures and to do their utmost to put an early end to the ongoing ethnic and religious violence, to protect all religious minorities, such as the minority in Manipur, and to prevent any further escalation".
It "calls on all parties to show restraint and urges politicians to stop inflammatory rhetoric, restore trust and be impartial when mediating tensions; strongly denounces any nationalist rhetoric; demands that people who criticize the attitude of the government are not incriminated".
The Parliament also encourages "the Indian central government, as well as all political actors and religious leaders, to take urgent measures to restore calm and ensure an inclusive dialogue involving civil society and affected communities".
"The European Union cannot turn a blind eye to these crimes," said MEP Miriam Lexmann during the debate preceding the resolution.
“While Indian officials often like to boast that the country is the largest democracy in the world, intolerance and violence against religious minorities paint a different picture. These attacks on Christians are not isolated incidents. organized, leaving behind destruction and shattered lives."
"Our message must be clear: we will not turn our heads away from violence and we will not turn our backs on persecuted Christians," said MEP Ladislav Ilčić.
MC
To learn more about the subject, also read:
https://www.infochretienne.com/articles/decapitation-dun-chretien-dans-letat-de-manipur-en-inde/
