Imphal: India’s northeast region’s fragile geopolitical position, compounded by an unaccounted illegal influx from neighbouring Myanmar due to the ongoing unrest in that country has severely disrupted inter-ethnic harmony, Manipur’s Khuraijam Athouba said, adding that this has led to a significant deterioration of human rights and peaceful coexistence between ethnic communities.
The surge in cross-border movements has further destabilised the region with a majority of refugees seeking sanctuary in the northeast region and indulging in all forms of illicit activities encroaching reserved forest areas, Athouba said while participating in the ongoing 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, 2024 in Geneva on Friday.
The official, who is also the spokesperson of COCOMI, and vice president of IPSA, presented his intervention to General Debate Agenda Item-5, which is Human Rights Bodies and Mechanisms. His intervention in person at the regular session was the third time in the ongoing session, Yumakhaibam Surjitkumar Khuman, Media Coordinator, COCOMI, said.
Athouba further noted that the confiscation of unlimited drugs and arms from the region in recent years is alarming. So far, US$18 billion worth of drugs have been seized in Manipur alone. At the same time, the neighbouring states of Assam and Mizoram seized US$ 16.88 billion and US$1.6 billion worth of drugs and narcotic substances respectively, he declared in the session.
Additionally, extensive opium poppy cultivation in Manipur, particularly by immigrant groups has reached unprecedented levels, and till date almost 18 thousand acres have been destroyed. This has led to massive deforestation, degrading the environment and threatening the survival of indigenous populations, he highlighted.
Athouba informed the Session that acknowledgement of foreign terror networks’ involvement in the ongoing Manipur violence in the Indian Parliament by several Ministers and officials has underscored the gravity of the situation. The Home Minister has attributed the ongoing violence to illegal immigration and narcotics from across the border.
During the Session, the official also appealed to this council to convene relevant human rights forums and implement necessary mechanisms to safeguard fundamental human rights and ensure the security of indigenous peoples of the region.
While suggesting that strengthening cross-border cooperation is necessary to combat illicit drug and arms trafficking in the region, Athouba said that alternative livelihoods should be provided to discourage poppy cultivation and mitigate environmental degradation. International cooperation to address the involvement of foreign terror networks must be facilitated, he said.
