Christians Still Persecuted in India

ICC Note

“No Christian activities like prayer, worship, singing and preaching is allowed within Chingmeirong Kabui village Ward No. 173, any living person violating this order will be punished under the rules and regulation of the village council.”

09/08/2010 India (News Blaze)-The Village Council of Chingmeirong Kabui at the heart of Imphal city of India’s northeast state Manipur passed an unconstitutional resolution and served notice to the members of the village who have converted to Christianity.

The Notice of resolution put up at the village gate in Manipuri reads:

“No Christian activities like prayer, worship, singing and preaching is allowed within Chingmeirong Kabui village Ward No. 173, any living person violating this order will be punished under the rules and regulation of the village council

– By Order Village Council/Village Chief, Chingmeirong.”

Under this unconstitutional resolution, members of the village destroyed the local church building and Christian homes.

On April 3, 2008, the Chingmeirong Kabui village council served notice to Mr. Kaphun Kamei and his wife of the same village a fine of one large pig and Rs 5000 according to customary law and asked them to leave the village. When Kaphun Kamei and his family did not follow the order of the village council, the villagers attacked and destroyed his home and his church at his private compound on December 14, 2008.

The case was reported to local police and seven of the accused were arrested and released on bail. Since then, neither police nor Manipur Government have taken any action to book the culprits and give justice to the victims.

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When the Manipur Government did not respond to the memorandum submitted, the Christian Council wrote to National Commission for Minorities on February 2, 2009. Thereafter NCM wrote to the Chief Secretary of Manipur on July 7 of this year and was summoned in response to the letter saying adequate action was not taken to bring judgment to the perpetuators and justice to the victims.

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Rev. Madhu Chandra, the Public Relation Secretary, and Advocate Lansinglu Rongmei, the Legal Secretary of the All India Christian Council submitted a fact-finding report conducted in March 2004, where 20 cases of Christian attacks took place in Manipur from 1990 to 2004. Over 10 churches and Christian homes were destroyed by anti-Christian elements, and reported many instances of village authorities segregating Christians.

“The Chief Secretary of Manipur, Mr. D. S. Poonia had no idea about the series of attacks on Christians in Manipur. When Dr. H. T. Sangliana – Vice Chairman of NCM, who chaired the hearing in retirement of Chairman, referred the fact-finding report to Mr. Poonia, he refused to acknowledge the crimes committed against Christian minorities which were reported in the local news papers and where the cases are registered at local police stations,” says Madhu Chandra.

In a memorandum submitted to NCM, the All India Christian Council demands an appointment of a Meitei Christian member in Manipur State Minority Commission. “Unless and until a member from vulnerable communities (such as the Christian community) are appointed to the State Minority commission, it will be incomplete in serving the interests of the community,” says Mr. Chandra.

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