Human Rights Defenders Data Information Knowledge Solidarity

Exerpts from Lette from Association of Meiteis in the Americasto Ajay Bangs, President The World Bank,
July 22, 2023

violence in Manipur has set the economy back by decades...
Manipur has not only survived but also emerged stronger after numerous internecine clashes. The common factor in most of these clashes seems to be the aggression of the Kukis. Mention may be made here of the Kuki and Naga clash in the 90s. Kuki and Paite clash in 1997. Kuki and Karbi clash in 2009. Kuki and Dimasa clash in 2011, and the ongoing Kuki and Meitei clash of 2023. In the context of Manipur, we see a repetition of history - the aggression of the Kukis in the 1990s and 2023 is directly linked to the military coup in Myanmar in 1988 and the military coup of February 2021. The junta's brutal suppression of resistance displaced mom than a million Myanmar people, and there has been a massive influx of asylum seekers to India. Consequently, them has been a documented exponential growth of Kuki-Chins people from Myanmar. The economic, land, and political pressures leave poor migrants with minimal choices for employment. India's restrictive migration regime provides no protection for refugees and displaced people, leading to poppy cultivation in over 15000 acres of protected fore. in Manipur.
The World Bank projects like the P176733 will help uplift socio-economic conditions through economic impact initiatives, bringing Manipur digitally closer to the rest of the world. The social risk and impact am enormously positive for the World Bank to invest in these regions. The project is highly inclusive, with special attention to women and over 35 diverse tribal groups.

Comment by BD : Othering the Kukis and labelling them as aggressors against other tribals groups like Nagas and Paites and other ethnic groups

Excerpts from Letter
NORTH AMERICAN MANIPUR TRIBAL ASSOCIATION July 19, 2023

This conflict violet. your own 'Environmental and Social Framework' policy document Section 4(b) since the Kuki-Zomi have borne the brunt of the impact from this conflict, not only the potential risk.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/now-manipur-diaspora-groups-fight-over-world-bank-project/articleshow/102185678.cms?from=mdr

A World Bank-supported project to promote digital skills and entrepreneurship and secure the foundation of digital governance in Manipur, and approved by the World Bank three weeks ago, has now become the bone of contention between Manipuri tribal and non-tribal diaspora groups.

Project , or the Manipur Infotech eNabled Development Project, which was conceptualised in 2022 at a cost of $57.5 million ($46 million to come from the World Bank and rest to be borne by the local government), is to be implemented by Cyber Corporation of Manipur Ltd.
Scheduled to start in the current financial year, when the state is engulfed by violence for nearly three months now, the project has sparked off a row between the Canada-based North American Tribal Association (NAMTA) and the Houston-based Association of Meiteis in the Americas (AMA).

 Status Report Filed by the Manipur Government: Summary https://www.scobserver.in/reports/what-does-the-status-report-filed-by-the-manipur-government-say/
Army Deployment in Manipur
Advay Vora | 11th Jul 2023

On July 10th, 2023, the Manipur Government filed a status report claiming that the current death toll in the State stands at 142*. Further, the report highlighted 462 injuries and 17 missing persons.

The 16-page report outlined over 5000 incidents of arson and over 54,000 people seeking refuge in relief camps.5,995 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in Manipur, with over 180 arrests.

Whatapps Comment By BD [17:36, 27/07/2023] Brinelle Dsouza: Manipur Government does not mention sexual violence/ rapes in their status report on to the Supreme Court
[17:37, 27/07/2023] Brinelle Dsouza: No provisions for compensation obviously

From an Anonynous Whats App post https://twitter.com/Paul_Koshy/status/1682065482550231040

Surveys by GSI (Geological Survey of India) in #Manipur has reported finding of Nickel, copper and Platinum Group Elements ( PGE )/Platinum Group Metals apart from Malachite, Azurite and Magnetite....Well known private companies with close links to the ruling party are interested in getting mining rights. The hill inhabitants would have to helplessly watch the hill and mountain tops being sliced off and monstrous mining equipments tear into it's belly and pull out their boo

Well known private companies with close links to the ruling party are interested in getting mining rights. The hill inhabitants would have to helplessly watch the hill and mountain tops being sliced off and monstrous mining equipments tear into it's belly and pull out their booty

Surveys by GSI (Geological Survey of India) in #Manipur has reported finding of Nickel, copper and Platinum Group Elements ( PGE )/Platinum Group Metals aptyt from Malachite, Azurite and Magnetite.

This lies under the earth strata of the hills which is the home to tribals for 1000s of years.

89% of the land in #Manipur are hills. The precious minerals are in that territory. This is the home of the tribals.

Well known private companies with close links to the ruling party are interested in getting mining rights. The hill inhabitants would have to helplessly watch the hill and mountain tops being sliced off and monstrous mining equipments tear into it's belly and pull out their booty... ..Somewhere deep beneath the ethnic violence that we see, is yet another untold story of precious metals, minerals, Mining lobby, political benefits.