The ongoing crisis in Manipur is not merely a political, ethnic, or security issue; it is fundamentally a human tragedy.
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A Mother's Cry. A Child's Fear. A People's Plea for Mercy.
The ongoing crisis in Manipur is not merely a political, ethnic, or security issue; it is fundamentally a human tragedy. Behind every statistic lies a grieving family, a displaced child, a traumatised mother, a lost future, and a shattered community. The prolonged violence has inflicted immense suffering upon countless innocent civilians, eroded trust between communities, and left deep wounds that threaten the social fabric of the State. Since May 2023, the violence in Manipur has taken hundreds of lives, displaced tens of thousands from their ancestral lands, desecrated places of worship, and torn apart communities that lived together for generations. Beyond the headlines lies something far more devastating: a culture of fear, mistrust, and hatred that threatens to destroy the soul of this state. We, the International Human Rights Council, Nagaland State Chapter, stand with you—not as observers, but as fellow human beings.
THIS IS NOT POLITICS. THIS IS HUMANITY DYING. Every human being, irrespective of ethnicity, tribe, religion, language, or social identity, possesses inherent dignity and equal worth. This principle lies at the heart of the Constitution of India, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and every civilised society that upholds the sanctity of human life. No community’s pain should be ignored, and no community’s suffering should be justified. Human rights are universal, indivisible, and belong equally to all. The violence in Manipur has brought untold hardships: lives lost, homes destroyed, places of worship desecrated, livelihoods disrupted, and thousands displaced from their ancestral lands. Beyond the visible destruction lies an even deeper crisis—the growing culture of fear, mistrust, hatred, and alienation among communities that have shared history and geography for generations. If left unaddressed, these wounds may endure long after the guns fall silent.
WE CANNOT BUILD PEACE ON SILENCE. Peace is not merely the absence of violence. Genuine peace requires justice. It requires truth. It requires accountability. It requires healing. Sustainable peace cannot be built upon the silence of victims, the denial of suffering, or the neglect of legitimate grievances. Rather, it must be founded upon the recognition of human dignity, equal protection under the law, and the assurance that every victim receives justice without prejudice or discrimination.
When victims are ignored, when investigations are delayed, when justice is selective—peace becomes fragile. When communities are pitted against each other, when hate spreads on social media, when leaders speak division instead of unity—the wounds become permanent.
A CALL TO CONSCIENCE to the Government and constitutional authorities
We appeal for impartial protection of all civilians, swift humanitarian assistance to displaced persons, effective rehabilitation measures, transparent investigations into all acts of violence, and equal access to justice for every victim irrespective of community affiliation. International human rights standards affirm that internally displaced persons must be protected and enabled to return voluntarily, safely, and with dignity.
To community and tribal leaders: We appeal for wisdom and restraint. Leadership is tested not during times of peace but during moments of crisis. The responsibility of leadership is not merely to defend the interests of one's own people but also to safeguard the future of generations yet to come. The language of reconciliation must replace the language of hostility, and dialogue must replace division.
To religious leaders and institutions: We appeal to you all, to become instruments of healing and reconciliation. Faith traditions teach compassion, forgiveness, justice, and the sacredness of human life. At a time when hatred seeks to divide, spiritual leadership must inspire people toward peace and coexistence.
To the youth of Manipur: We appeal to reject narratives of hatred and revenge. The future cannot be secured through perpetual hostility. The strength of a generation is measured not by its capacity to destroy but by its courage to rebuild what has been broken.
To the media and digital platforms: Exercise responsibility, verify information, and resist the spread of inflammatory content that deepens mistrust and fuels violence. Human rights investigations have highlighted the damaging role that misinformation and hate narratives can play during periods of conflict.
To every citizen: We appeal to resist misinformation, inflammatory rhetoric, and collective blame. Violence committed by individuals must never become grounds for condemning entire communities. Human dignity demands that we see one another first as fellow human beings before any other identity.
THE CHOICE IS OURS NOW. The world has repeatedly witnessed that conflicts rooted in fear and division can only be transformed through courage, empathy, and a shared commitment to justice. History teaches that reconciliation is neither weakness nor surrender; it is one of the highest expressions of strength and moral courage.
History will not only remember how this conflict began; it will also remember how people chose to respond to it. Let Manipur be remembered not for perpetual division, but for the courage of its people to rise above pain, uphold human dignity, seek justice, and build a future founded upon peace, reconciliation, and coexistence. The people of Manipur deserve more than survival; they deserve peace. They deserve security. They deserve justice. They deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives and live together with dignity and mutual respect. The tears of mothers, the trauma of children, the displacement of families, and the loss of innocent lives should move every conscience. No political objective, ethnic aspiration, or ideological difference can ever be greater than the value of human life.
OUR COLLECTIVE CALL:
Let every gun be silenced.
Let every victim be heard.
Let every community be protected.
Let justice prevail. Let peace return to Manipur.
Peace without justice is fragile.
Justice without reconciliation is incomplete.
Human dignity demands both.
Let this be a moment when humanity triumphs over hatred, compassion over vengeance, truth over propaganda, and peace over violence. May the tears of the afflicted become a call to conscience. May the suffering of the innocent awaken our collective responsibility. And may future generations inherit not a legacy of conflict and division, but a legacy of justice, reconciliation, and enduring peace.
The International Human Rights Council – Nagaland State Chapter appeals to all citizens to pray for peace to prevail in the State of Manipur. This appeal is published in the spirit of healing, reconciliation, and the universal belief that every human being deserves to live with dignity, safety, and hope.
Akavi N Zhimomi
President, Nagaland State Chapter – International Human Rights Council