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Christians Still Persecuted in India

By All India Christian Council

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.

The All India Christian Council submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary of Manipur on December 17, 2008 to look into the matter of unconstitutional rules and regulation made by the Chingmeirong Kabui village, which violate the basic fundamental rights provided under the Constitution of India.

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.

NCM gave 15 days notice to the Chief Secretary of Manipur to submit the charge sheet of the case and the Commission will write to the Manipur Government to ask for compensatation to the victim and to the loss of properties. The Christian Council has also appealed to NCM and the Manipur Government to instruct the Chingmeirong Kabui Village Council to revoke the unconstitutional rules and regulation passed for Christians in the village.

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.

The All India Christian Council led by Secretary General Dr. John Dayal (also a member of the National Integration Council) will conduct another fact-finding mission from September 17 - 19th. The report of the fact-finding and Independent tribunal will also be submitted to NCM and the Manipur Government.

The All India Christian Council (www.christiancouncil.in), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The AICC is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.