New Delhi: Boxing legend and former Rajya Sabha MP M.C. Mary Kom has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking his intervention to protect her tribe, the Kom, from the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur. The letter, which ThePrint has seen, urges Shah to ensure that security forces are “impartial” and that the “warring groups” do not enter Kom villages.
In the letter dated 31 August, she writes that the Kom community, one of the smallest minority tribes in Manipur, has traditionally maintained a neutral stance and “peacefully coexists with every community”. They have consistently maintained that they are distinct from both Nagas and Kukis, she adds.
The Kom tribe is a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, with a population of about 14,500 in Manipur according to the 2011 census. According to media reports, tribal organisations have been appealing to their people to remain neutral and not get involved in the ongoing violence, which began on 3 May.
In addition to the Kom tribe, several other smaller tribal communities, including Aimol, Chiru, Chothe, Kharam, and Koireng, find themselves reportedly entangled in the complexities of the ongoing conflict in Manipur.
In the letter, Kom writes, “It is to inform you that we (Kom) are not a part of the current Meitei & Kuki-Zo conflict, which started on May 3, 2023. Even so, we have been affected by the wave in several aspects though unseen. It should be noted that none of the Kom villages engage armed volunteers with bunkers, but because they are all dispersed between the two rivalling communities and in the periphery, there are always speculations and doubts against my community from both sides, and we are caught in the middle of all problems.
“The terrible thing is that, due to our weak internal administration and tiny size as a community among the minority tribes, we have not been able to stand against any forces that intrude (on) our jurisdiction.”
She also appeals to both the Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities to refrain from involving or instigating her community in any way, and called for peace and harmony among all the communities in Manipur.
Kom also calls on the people of Manipur, particularly the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, to set aside their differences and work together to restore peace and normalcy.
Moreover, she appeals to the central and state governments to prioritise finding a solution to the conflict for the sake of the populace, and to save lives.
Earlier, the former MP had expressed her concerns about the situation in Manipur on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
My state Manipur is burning, kindly help @narendramodi @PMOIndia @AmitShah @rajnathsingh @republic @ndtv @IndiaToday pic.twitter.com/VMdmYMoKqP
— M C Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) May 3, 2023
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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