A refusal to compromise by Hindu-majority Meitei and pre-dominantly Christian tribal groups have dampened hopes of esta-blishing a lasting peace in India’s sectarian conflict-torn Manipur state, Christian leaders say. The latest round of talks between Federal Home Ministry officials and a 19-member delegation, mostly from Meitei-run civil society organizations, failed to produce a roadmap for peace in the north-eastern state. The talks were held in the national capital, Delhi, on June 30.
Earlier on June 9, a five-member delegation representing Kuki-Zo tribal groups held a meeting with Home Ministry officials. These and other peace talks involving federal government officials and the warring Manipur groups followed a two-year-old deadly Meitei-tribal conflict that claimed more than 260 lives and displaced about 60,000 people, mostly tribal Christians. During the meetings, the Meiteis insisted on maintaining the “territorial integrity of the state of Manipur” contrary to the stand of the tribals who want to “divide the state with a separate administration” for them. Christian leaders say both the Meitei and tribals tend to “stick to their guns,” which makes peace elusive. “As long as both sides continue to stick to their demands, we do not know how long it will take to restore peace,” one Church leader told, expressing frustration over the stalemate.
Spanish bishops speak out after leaks of their meeting with Leo XIV
The executive committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) meeting in Madrid this week, issued an official statement regarding the leaks
