Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights Issues Strong Rebuttal to NCW's Letter on Jiribam Violence

The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights (KWOHR) has issued a scathing response to the National Commission for Women’s (NCW) recent letter, dated December 20, 2024, addressing the ongoing violence in Jiribam, Manipur. The KWOHR’s statement condemns any form of violence but accuses the NCW of hypocrisy, highlighting its failure to act on the long-standing atrocities faced by Kuki women since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.

In its letter, the NCW expressed concern over the recent violence in Jiribam, calling for prompt action from the government of Manipur. However, KWOHR points out the Commission's glaring silence regarding the widespread and brutal violence against Kuki tribal women over the last 18 months. The group criticizes the NCW for its inaction despite multiple representations, including a detailed letter from KWOHR in August 2024, which documented the abuse faced by Kuki women at the hands of Meitei militant groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun, allegedly backed by the state government.

The KWOHR’s statement details a series of atrocities committed against Kuki women, which it claims include rape, sexual violence, murder, torture, and forced displacement. Notably, the organization refers to the widely condemned incident of two Kuki women being paraded naked in Phainom, which gained international attention. Despite the global outrage, the KWOHR accuses the NCW of failing to hold the perpetrators accountable or demand justice for the victims.

The KWOHR also criticizes the NCW's recent selective outrage, pointing out the disparity in its response to the violence against Kuki and Meitei communities. While the NCW expressed swift concern for Meitei victims in Jiribam, the KWOHR argues that the Commission has overlooked the systematic and more widespread violence against Kuki women, which the organization believes constitutes ethnic cleansing.

In its rebuttal, the KWOHR demands immediate action from the NCW and the Indian government to address the ongoing atrocities against Kuki women. Specifically, the group calls for an independent investigation into the crimes, the dismantling of state-backed militant groups, and international intervention to hold the Indian government accountable for the systemic violence against Kuki tribals.

The statement concludes with a call to the international community, urging organizations like the United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch to intervene in what the KWOHR describes as a "systematic genocide" against Kuki women, which, it argues, amounts to crimes against humanity.

The Kuki Women Organisation for Human Rights remains determined to continue its fight for justice and equality, vowing to challenge any form of injustice or marginalization faced by Kuki women.