Activists joined members of the Indian Diaspora outside Victorian Parliament on August 20 to show solidarity with the indigenous Kuki-Zo minority, who are being targeted by Hindu extremist organisations in the north eastern Indian state of Manipur.
They called for an end to the violence by the majority Meitei, for the Australian government to speak out against violence and for reconciliation and justice for the victims to prevent future conflicts.
Rebecca Lhouvam, a Kuki-Zo woman, spoke of the suffering of her friends, family and community. 鈥淢y aunt鈥檚 house was burned 鈥 she had to flee for her life with the [children], seeking for shelter鈥 my cousin sister and her family also had to flee for their lives.鈥
She expressed helplessness and frustration with Prime Minister Narendra Modi鈥檚 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unbearable to hear [my family's] voices, full of pain, and I鈥檓 here not able to do anything. The cries for justice are louder and louder, but they are just echoes in the air for the government of India.鈥
Afzal Abdul Kadar, Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) Australia and IOC Australia Kerala Chapter, told the gathering that 鈥渢he BJP鈥檚 negligence has only intensified the suffering of innocent people 鈥 in the face of our plight, the Indian government鈥檚 response has been feeble, tardy, and insufficient鈥.
Other speakers accused the BJP government of participating in the violence. Kham Khual, a Manipuri, said that in Lamka (Churachandpur), in the north east, the Kuki people who were protecting their village, daughters, wives, mums and dads were shot. He criticised the state-wide shutdown of internet services for two months, saying the BJP 鈥渢ried to plan a silent genocide鈥.
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Jacob Andrewartha of Socialist Alliance said Labor聽must condemn the chauvinist violence. He said there is a connection between the violence against Kuki-Zo in Manipur and the promotion of hatred against other oppressed minorities in India, including LGBTIQ communities. Militia groups in Manipur have ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the paramilitary organisation behind the Hindutva movement in India.
Suresh Vallath, from IOC Australia Kerala Chapter, spoke about the context of the violence in Manipur including that Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh had introduced a mining bill 鈥渁llowing companies to operate mines and oil projects and forcefully evict tribal peoples鈥.
[91自拍论坛 is hosting a public forum,聽, on August 31, 6.30pm at the Multicultural Hub.]