The Kuki Christian Leaders’ Forum (KCLF) has appealed to Christians of Manipur to shun violence, reflect on the teachings of Jesus Christ and choose reconciliation.
A Declaration of Faith Affirmation by Kuki Christian Leaders’ Forum (KCLF)
“The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites one family. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. The earth is sacred, and men and animals are but one part of it. Treat the earth with respect so that it lasts for centuries to come and is a place of wonder and beauty for our children.” -Extract from Chief Seattle.
To our fellow Christians of Manipur, Northeast India, we address you as servants of God, representing the Kuki-Zo Christians during these turbulent times of violence within our Christian community. Our society is drenched in tears and the blood of innocent human beings due to the unfortunate violence, the spilt over from the engineered violence against the minority in Manipur since May 3, 2023. As Christian leaders, witnessing the cycle of violence that has enveloped our society, we appeal to every individual and community in the region to shun violence and reflect on the mandate of the teachings of Jesus Christ, which compels us to offer a clear, scriptural directive on peacebuilding and reconciliation. Both in the Holy Bible and in our indigenous traditions, land belongs to God and is considered sacred, so no one can claim ownership of it. We must find a more biblical and contextually sustainable theology for land and land ownership for all of us. In this landscape, our Christian faith and values must be measured by our willingness to submit armed power to legal measures, peaceful treaties, and non-violent dialogue.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
We missed many opportunities to witness our faith in Christ as one body by not being able to transcend our ethnic identities and ethnocentric Christianity. As Christian tribes, one body in Christ, we have failed to live out our faith by not standing together to condemn the unprecedented persecution since May 2023, during which the Kuki-Zo Christian tribes have lost more than 300 churches. We are convinced, even after losing many innocent lives, including a church leader for peace (L) Rev V. Sitlhou, that peace is the only solution to the ongoing crises. We acknowledge with profound sorrow and mourn the tragic killing of six Naga civilians by armed individuals, following the killing of Rev. V. Sitlhou, Rev. Kaigoulen, and Pastor Paogoulen. We also condemn the killings of many Kuki innocent civilians in the name of justice for the unfortunate and tragic killings of the six Naga civilians. Families who lost their family members mourn the loss of their loved ones deeply, and at the same time, yearn for peace.
Haominlun Sithlhou, son of (L) Rev. V. Sitlhou, said, “In the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I have forgiven the perpetrators who have taken away my father and his colleague”. In this dark hour, let us all remember that we are all fashioned in the sacred image of the living God and every life lost diminishes our Christian values.
St. Augustine observed that violence becomes deeply sinful when it is driven by internal malice, revengeful cruelty, and the lust for sovereign mastery over others, libido dominandi (the lust for domination). He suggests that true justice requires the preservation of pacts, the protection of the vulnerable, and a sincere desire to lead society back to the benefits of peace. Saint Augustine, in his Exposition on Psalm 127, wrote: “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” “In Illo uno unum” (In the One, we are one).
We must revisit our ethnocentric theologies that shape our understanding of the Christian Faith and Values. Churches in our communities need to actively challenge theological ideas that link Christian identity with exclusive territorial claims and nationalism based on tribes and ethnicity.
We are well aware of the fact that the genocidal violence in Gaza was done in the name of God and that must not be repeated here in our beautiful land. Let us use our pulpits more to speak for peacebuilding within our societies. It is now time for the Church to cease uncritical collaboration with armed groups and to transcend all artificial boundaries created by humans and consider the issue of structural violence that affects our Christian community in the region. We should also remember that we live within systems expressly designed to reinforce social disparities. The systematic normalisation of the oppression of vulnerable populations across social, economic, and political spheres leads to stress, poverty, trauma, and crime. Let's collaborate to foster peace and reconciliation among our Christian communities, despite the deep wounds on both sides.
With this, we call for both the Church and community leaders to create opportunities for dialogues and peaceful solution to the ongoing violence among Christian tribes of Manipur. We also call for the wider Christian communities in Northeast India and beyond to help find a lasting peace in Manipur and end the suffering of the vulnerable people.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." (Matthew 5:9).
Rev. Dr. Khup, Gen. Secy. KCLF
Rev. Th. Khuala, Chairman, KCLF