Divisive ideologies and agendas are the root cause of an ethnic conflict that has led to violence against Christians and attacks on churches in India’s northeastern state of Manipur, said Indian Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal, the state’s capital city.
“Hidden agendas and ideologies contrary to the constitutional and demo-cratic values often infiltrate into the region and the state which jeopardizes the peaceful coexistence and religious harmony of the state and the region,” Archbishop Lumon told on May 24.
“Outside forces with hidden agendas to disturb communal harmony and vested interests have to be recognized and resi-sted,” he said.
The violence began in early May when ethnic tribal groups, primarily Christian, protested against a High Court decision granting “Scheduled Tribe” status to the majority Meithei Hindu community.
Scheduled Tribes are Indigenous tribal groups that are given reservation status under India’s constitution. Traditionally disadvantaged communities recognized as Scheduled Tribes are guaranteed political representation, and receive benefits such as education and employment.
Answering questions from OSV News via email, Archbishop Lumon explained that opposition to the Meithei community’s inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes also would grant them the right to own land in ethnic tribal areas and is an issue that is at the “heart of the violence in Manipur.”
He also cited disparity in land distribution and in political representation in favor of the Meithei community as reasons for escalating tensions in the region. According to UCA News, recent riots claimed the lives of over 70 people and left tens of thousands of people displaced.
Anger toward tribal Christians and their opposition toward the Meithei’s granting of reservation status has led to attacks on homes and Christian places of worship, the archbishop said.
Archbishop Lumon told OSV News that Manipur is a multi-ethnic state of many cultural and religious groups and that the only way it can move past the violence is if its people “learn to embrace a common brotherhood and peaceful coexistence.”