The US State Department’s annual report on human rights practices has shed light on significant human rights abuses in Manipur following the outbreak of ethnic conflict in May last year.
In the “2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: India”, released on Monday, the State Department highlighted the Manipur crisis, citing extrajudicial killings, encounters by government forces, and non-government entities among other issues.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who released the report, highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that the outbreak of ethnic conflict in Manipur resulted in significant human rights abuses.
“Media reported at least 175 persons were killed and more than 60,000 displaced between May 3 and November 15,” he told the press.
The report also noted criticism from local human rights organisations, minority political parties, and affected communities directed towards the national government for delayed action in stopping the violence and providing humanitarian assistance.
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Following the release of the report, a senior US State Department official stressed on the importance of upholding human rights commitments.
Robert S. Gilchrist, a senior official from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, highlighted ongoing consultations between India and the US on democracy and human rights issues.
“We strongly encourage India to uphold its human rights commitments. We regularly meet with civil society representatives in the US and India, and we encourage the government of India to consult and meet regularly with these organizations,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying by an international news agency.
This latest report adds to the growing international attention on the unrest in Manipur.
Last week, British Foreign Secretary and former UK Prime Minister David Cameron addressed the religious aspect of the ongoing strife in Manipur during a session in the House of Lords.
Responding to a question regarding freedom of religion or belief in India and reported violations in Manipur, Cameron highlighted instances of religious intolerance and violence in India, he noted the “religious dimension often presents in communal, tribal, or ethnic conflicts”.
