Manipur Govt ignores anti-Christian attacks

Dimapur, Sep 9 : The National Commission for Minorities on Tuesday summoned the chief secretary of Manipur DS Poonia before the commission for Manipur government’s failure to take up the case of the attack on Chingmeirong church on December 14, 2008.
In Manipur, many village authorities in many villages still segregate Meitei Christians, Rongmei Christians and Nepali Christians away from the village communities.
The commission served a 15-day notice to Manipur government to submit the charge-sheet, it was informed today. The All India Christian Council (AICC) submitted a fact-finding report to the minorities’ commission and the government of Manipur.
The village council of Chingmeirong Kabui in Imphal, Manipur passed an unconstitutional resolution and served notice to the members of the village who had converted to Christianity. The notice of resolution put up at the village gate in Manipuri read: “No Christian activities like prayer, worship, singing and preaching is allowed within Chingmeirong Kabui village Ward No. 173, any living person violating this order will be punished under the rules and regulation of the village council - by order village council/village chief, Chingmeirong.” Under this resolution, members of the village destroyed church building and Christian homes.
On April 3, 2008, the Chingmeirong Kabui village council served notice to one Kaphun Kamei and his wife of the same village a fine (of large sized pig and Rs 5000 according to “customary law”) and asked to leave the village. When Kaphun Kamei and his family refused to, the villagers attacked and destroyed his home and church building at his private compound on December 14, 2008.
The case was reported to local police and seven of the accused were arrested but later released on bail. Since then, neither the police nor the Manipur government has taken any action to book the culprits.
The All India Christian Council submitted a memorandum to the chief secretary of Manipur on December 17, 2008 to look into the matter of unconstitutional rules and regulation made by the Chingmeirong Kabui village. The village’s resolution violates basic fundamental rights provided under the Constitution of India.
When Manipur Government did not respond, Christian council wrote to the National Commission for Minorities on February 2, 2009. The commission then wrote to the chief secretary of Manipur on July 7, 2010 and sought response why action was not taken to against the perpetuators and justice to the victims.
The NCM gave 15-days notice to the chief secretary to submit the charge sheet of the case and the commission is expected to write to the Manipur Government to compensate the victims and loss of properties. The AICC has also appealed to the NCM and Manipur Government to instruct Chingmeirong Kabui village council to revoke the unconstitutional rules and regulation passed against Christians in the village.
About 20 cases of attack on Christians in Manipur took place from 1990 to 2004. Over 10 churches and Christian homes destroyed by anti-Christian elements. Village authorities in many villages still segregate many Meitei Christians, Rongmei Christians and Nepali Christians.
“Since series of attack on Christian minorities taking place, unless and until a member from vulnerable communities appointed in State Minority commission, it will be incomplete to serve the interest of community,” the council said.