The United Christian Forum (UCF) has written to Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, calling for urgent and decisive action to address what it described as a “grave and escalating humanitarian crisis” in the conflict-torn state.
Toko Teki, Spokesperson for the UCF’s North East Region, wrote the letter from Itanagar on 25 April, painting a grim picture of conditions on the ground and stating that ongoing inter-community violence had resulted in loss of lives, destruction of homes, and mass displacement of families.
“Many lives have been lost, homes reduced to ashes, families displaced, and a climate of fear and suspicion has taken root where once there was coexistence and shared humanity,” Teki wrote.
The letter drew particular attention to the toll on vulnerable sections of the population. “Mothers live in fear for their children, the elderly are left without protection, and countless families have been forced to flee their homes with no certainty of return,” it stated. The UCF also noted that places of worship, which should have served as sanctuaries, had not been spared from the violence.
While acknowledging the Chief Minister’s “round-the-clock engagement with stakeholders and bold policy decisions,” Teki warned that these must translate into visible action on the ground. “In the face of such suffering, silence and inaction risk becoming a form of indifference that history will not easily forget,” he wrote.
Drawing from scripture, the letter cited Mark 12:31 and Matthew 25:40 to reinforce its moral appeal, urging the government to place the suffering of ordinary people at the centre of its response.
“This is the moment that calls for courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the common good. The decisions taken now will shape the immediate future and also the moral conscience of generations to come,” Teki wrote.
The UCF appealed to apex civil society bodies active in the conflict, including the United Naga Council (UNC), the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), and Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), to work collectively towards peace and reconciliation. Copies of the letter were marked to Ng. Lorho, President of the UNC; Y.K. Dhiren, Convenor of COCOMI; and Ch Ajang Kongsai, President of KIM.
The forum called on all parties to rise above divisions of community, creed, and identity. “Violence and hatred, regardless of their origin, stand in direct contradiction to these values and only deepen divisions that may take generations to heal,” it said, expressing hope that peace would return to Manipur.
Speaking to Christian Today, A.C. Michael, National Coordinator of UCF, said: “Three years on, thousands of people remain displaced, churches and homes lie in ashes, and children are being killed in their own neighbourhoods. This is not a law and order problem anymore; it is a civilisational failure. The new Chief Minister must demonstrate that his government belongs to every community in Manipur, not just to those who voted for him.”
Manipur has been in the grip of ethnic violence since May 2023, with periodic flare-ups continuing to affect civilians across the state.
