In the wake of the Manipur ethnic conflict that has persisted for nearly three months, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) is preparing for the burial of 35 deceased members belonging to the Kuki-Zo community in Churachandpur district. Six of the deceased are women.
The “Final Tribute to The Tribal Martyrs” ceremony will be held at 11 am at Peace Ground in Tuibuong, Churachandpur. Over 10,000 individuals are likely to attend the solemn occasion, according to information from sources.
Ginza Vualzong, In-Charge of Media and Publicity wing of the ITLF, informed Christian Today that the burial, however, will be a smaller, separate occasion at Haolai Khopi, close to Churachandpur, and will be attended only by the family members of the deceased and tribal elders.
In a heartfelt tweet, the ITLF paid tribute to the fallen martyrs, honoring their sacrifice for their cause and expressing their gratitude.
However, considering the tense atmosphere between the two communities, worries have been raised about security in the area. Given that the Meiteis have expressed concerns regarding the burial site selection, further precautions have been taken to prevent any unforeseen accidents.
Vualzong alleged that they had received threats from the Meira Paibi and Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), both Meitei bodies.
“The Meira Paibi and COCOMI told us that they will march tomorrow in this area where we are having the funeral,” he said while speaking to Christian Today.
He also claimed that the police and the army had requested the ITLF to either postpone the burials or change the location due to security threat.
“The police and the army met us today and they wanted us to postpone or change the venue because of security reasons but everything is already planned, and all logistics have been done. We cannot postpone or cancel,” he elaborated.
When asked about the delay in the burial till now, Vualzong clarified that the community has been waiting for the release of the bodies of Kuki-Zo people that are in the morgue in state capital Imphal.
“It is now three months that we are waiting for the bodies from Imphal valley. Around 40 - 50 bodies are there. We wanted to bury all on the same day. But since the state government is not cooperating and not sending the bodies and we decided to go ahead and bury the ones we have,” he explained.
The ethnic religious crisis that ignited on May 3, has so far resulted in the loss of over 150 lives and has left thousands of people from both the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities homeless. According to the ITLF, 120 Kuki-Zo people have lost their lives in the violence so far.
The deployment of heavy security forces in vulnerable areas across the state has not fully stabilized the situation, as incidents of violence and destruction continue to occur. Most recently, around 17 houses in Kanan Veng, opposite Kekru Pat in Imphal West, were burnt down. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but prompt action from the fire service and district police managed to control the blaze and prevent further damage.
The ITLF remains resolute in their decision to honor their fallen comrades, but the prevailing tensions and instability in Manipur keep the situation delicate and uncertain.
“Please pray that our Martyrs will finally rest in peace, so far, they have not rested. Tomorrow, we will lay them in the final place. Pray also for the rest of the bodies so that we may bury them in the next batch,” Vualzong requested.
Efforts for peace and resolution continue as the region grapples with the aftermath of this prolonged ethnic religious conflict.
· Let us join in prayer for the funeral scheduled tomorrow in Churachandpur. The mass funeral, commencing at 11 am, will be preceded by an inter-denominational Prayer time from 6:00 am to 10:00 am.
· Pray that the authorities will not obstruct or hinder the service, allowing it to proceed smoothly and without any obstacles.
· Lift your hearts in prayer, asking God to protect all the attendees and ensure a peaceful gathering. With nearly 10,000 people expected, may God's peace prevail over the entire event.
