Nagaland Joint Christian Forum says violence in Manipur ‘deeply troubling’

Dimapur: The Nagaland Joint Christian Forum (NJCF) on Sunday expressed concern over the ongoing unrest and recent escalation of violence in Manipur.

In a statement, NJCF said the report of attacks and the visual images of burning of churches, destroying properties, and taking of lives were “deeply troubling”.

“NJCF believes that violence in any form is never a solution, it only distances one group from the other. Manipur is a developing state in the region and such an unfortunate turn of event should not smear the outlook. Therefore, we condemn all forms of violence and appeal to the communities to remain calm and create a sense of confidence among the people who have suffered destruction of property and loss of lives and are not living in fear and in insecurity.

“Violence is never a means to solve any issue. We urge all parties involved to engage in peaceful dialogue and find a non-violent resolution to their differences. We call upon all parties to respect the sanctity of sacred places and properties,” read the statement.

NJCF said people in authority must take stock of the situation and diffuse the tension among different communities and give hope to those who are suffering and bearing the brunt of violence.

At this juncture, confidence must be built to give hope that the system still exists, it said. Therefore, the NJCF urged the authorities to take swift action to ensure the safety and security of all individuals and all communities affected by this violence.

“The NJCF acknowledges the long-standing co-existence of different communities in Manipur and pray that the long-term grievances are suitably addressed in consultation with the people rationally. We assure the people of Manipur of our prayers and support towards building a peaceful and inclusive society where every individual can live without fear or discrimination. We also assure of our prayers to people in authority and the church leaders as you work to bring healing to the hurting and suffering communities,” it added.