The victims were murdered after being captured, and brutally tortured which raises alarming concerns of potential genocide and crimes against humanity under UN Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, it said.
TFM Desk
The Global Manipur Federation on Thursday vehemently condemned the brutal killing of 13 Meitei individuals and expressed condolences to the families affected by this tragic incident that occurred on 4 December 2023, at Leithao village near the Myanmar border.
In a press statement issued from Bangkok, the federation said that 13 Meitei youths — some still in their teenage years — fell victim to a massacre perpetrated by Chin-Kuki militants, allegedly. Many of them were Internally Displaced People (IDPs) residing in relief camps. It added.
The statement further maintained that in the absence of motive or evidence as to why their lifeless bodies were recovered near Leithao village, this gruesome incident can be classified as crimes against humanity, akin to the Supreme Court of India’s description of “keeping the Pot Boiling in Manipur”.
It alleged that the victims were murdered after being captured and brutally tortured which raises alarming concerns of potential genocide and crimes against humanity under UN Article 3 of the Geneva Convention. asserted
Urging the government of Manipur to officially recognise these individuals as martyrs, GMF called upon the authority to employ all necessary legal measures to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this mass killing.
The statement further said the ongoing turmoil in Manipur, stemming from the 3 May violence, has disrupted the lives of these youths who would otherwise be leading peaceful lives with their families. GMF implored the provincial government and New Delhi to undertake confidence-building measures towards ending this crisis and bringing a durable peace at the earliest.
Maintaining that the government is the custodian of the protection of life and security of the people of Manipur, the GMF urged it to commit to protecting the public and their interests, in particular the desperate youths, and ensure that such incidents do not repeat in the future.