Archbishop Linus Neli: people want a peaceful and lasting political solution in Manipur
The archbishop of Imphal spoke to AsiaNews in Rome. Violence between Meitei and Kuki-Zo has diminished, but "the mental divide continues”. Modi's visit in September came “too late”. The Church is providing assistance to displaced people. For the prelate, “survivel comes first, then, the pursuit of peace”. Meanwhile, Naga leader Thuingaleng Muivah returned to Manipur after decades.
Rome (AsiaNews) – Narendra Modi's visit to Churachandpur, Manipur, last month was marked by many “too” statements. It came "too late", two and a half years after the conflict broke out; it represents "too little" for reconciliation between ethnic and religious groups (i.e. predominantly Hindu Meitei majority, and the mostly Christian Kuki-Zo minority); and it epitomises the government’s response, which was “too slow” .
Mgr Linus Neli, archbishop of Imphal since 2023, is committed to peace in northeastern India. He spoke to AsiaNews at the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome, on the sidelines of the release of the 2025 Report on Religious Freedom by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
“The important thing now is a peaceful and lasting political solution. This is the cry of the people," the prelate asserted. “It is unclear whether the Honourable Prime Minister Modi came for political or other national interests, or for the people and the displaced,” but "at least he came," he added.
The visit followed a long period of silence in the wake of the outbreak of violence in May 2023 that officially left 260 people dead and 60,000 people displaced in the northeastern state bordering Myanmar, figures seen by some as far from the real toll.
Nevertheless, the visit “should not be belittled,” despite the suffering it kindled and the harsh criticism by the opposition, which described it as "farce”.
“The way people feel has not been touched as deeply as a national leader like the prime minister should have done. We need something more tangible, rapid, and solid,” Archbishop Neli said.
Violence may have receded in Manipur for the time being, but “the mental divide continues,” he told AsiaNews.
After decades of friction, the last straw was the Meitei majority's request for scheduled tribe status. Under Indian law, this would provide a series of special safeguards and benefits previously reserved for the economically disadvantaged Kuki-Zo tribes living in the state’s hilly areas.
The initial protests were followed by armed clashes and lynchings. Some 369 churches were destroyed, as were many Hindu temples.
A symbol of pain and destruction is the image of Archbishop Linus Neli kneeling in prayer among the ruins of St Joseph's Church in Sugnu, in May 2024.
As a result of the violence, the central government imposed presidential rule on the state, and deployed 60,000 federal troops to quell the unrest and “guard the buffer zones” that separate the groups.
“These two communities find it hard, if not impossible, to cross over,” the archbishop explained. But “the government is trying to allow free movement within the state.”
Thousands of displaced people are still stuck in a difficult situation, hardly earning a livelihood, something especially hard on “women and children,” not to mention, “people’s education, above all that of children,” Archbishop Neli said.
As time goes by, the displaced are losing hope and trust because of the slow pace of government action in dealing with the humanitarian situation. Most refugees are in emergency camps, distressed and disoriented.
“We know very well that Manipur lies on international borders. For the Indian government, national security here is a complex issue, as are international interests," the prelate noted.
Under the pretext of their proximity to a porous border, ethnic Kuki have been accused of involvement in drug trafficking and of providing shelter to migrants from Myanmar.
The archbishop of Imphal, an expert in human rights and canon law, notes that despite the divisions, “people of good will” who believe in reconciliation have launched certain initiatives.
One is the Interfaith Forum Manipur (IFM), of which he is a member, which recently announced the founding of a World Peace Centre.
“We do our best to raise awareness. Amid the suffering, we must respect the human spirit, the anguish, and the internal conflict of every person," he said.
This anguish stems from a “loss of identity, dignity, and desire,” which must be rediscovered and brought to light to "bring peace to people”. To this end, it is necessary to “urge political and civil society leaders to speed up solutions.”
Interfaith coexistence in Manipur teaches us that "we cannot easily shout a single slogan, because it would not represent the voice of all interests”.
In fact, Manipur society is characterised by many ethnic and religious divisions, and Christianity itself is fragmented, the archbishop told AsiaNews.
“There are Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, Evangelicals... When you talk to people, looking at their faces, you can see that divisions remain," he said. Small, house Churches face major obstacles in returning to worship after the harsh repression by the Meitei majority.
“Displaced Kuki-Zo are in the hills. They are seeking refuge, and some are even hiding in the forest. We have been trying to give them hope by building prefabricated houses and offering affordable housing to resettle them as quickly as possible," Archbishop Neli said.
Such solutions fall short of addressing all basic needs, such as healthcare, electricity, and water supplies. For now, “survival comes first, then, the pursuit of peace,” he explained.
In the meantime, a highly symbolic political event has made the headlines recently in Manipur, even if it is not a true turning point.
Thuingaleng Muivah, 93, political and military leader of the Naga nationalist movement has returned home after more than five decades.
Muivah, who is secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), embodies an important part of the political history of the state, as well as its past social cohesion.
The Nagas have tried to stay out of the conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo, representing a strategic partner for both. Muivah's enthusiastic and peaceful welcome in his home village of Somdal represents a rare opportunity for reconciliation.
For a long time, he was not allowed to come home with his last attempt vetoed by the state government in 2010.
For the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), lifting the ban on his return reflects New Delhi's shift towards dialogue and engagement. But perhaps “too much” fuss is being made about it.
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03/05/2024 11:27
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