SYDNEY, 3 August 2023: An interfaith solidarity meeting against violence in India’s North-Eastern Manipur state, was today held at the Jubilee Hall of the NSW Parliament here. Members of the subcontinent Diaspora and prominent community representatives were present. A one minute silence was observed in memory of victims of recent violence in Manipur.
Organised by the STOP Violence Against Women, under the slogan Save Manipur Save Women, speakers at the meeting expressed shock and awe at the developments in Manipur, for the last three months.
Addressing the gathering Greens MLC Abaigal expressed solidarity with minorities in India and everywhere. In a Facebook post she says, ” I was honoured to speak today, along with Lee Rhiannon and members of the Indian diaspora community, demanding justice for women in Manipur… We must stand up, raise our voices and fight for justice for minority, Dalit and Indigenous women.”
Mary Biakmawil Mizo, Senior Administrator at the ARC Training emotionally described the information she had about her family and the Kuki-Zo tribes facing the tough situation in Manipur.
Others who addressed the meeting included Rt. Rev.James Jacob, Labor MLC Anthony D’Adam, Andrea Nevill, Philip Immaraj, Mr. Salahuddin (TAMS) and former Greens Senator, Lee Rhiannon.
Available data (Wikipedia) indicates Manipur has a population of around 3 million. Out of these 53% are Meitei, Nagas 24%, Kuki-Zo 16%, and others including Muslims, Christians etc. According to the 2011 census, 83.38% of Meiteis practice Hinduism around 16% of Meiteis follow the traditional Sanamahi religion, about 8% follow Islam and are known as Meitei Pangals and about 1.06% are Christians.
The report will be updated as and when new information comes.
