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Introduction:
North East India
comprises of eight states: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikim. Majority of the
people in the North East are hill tribe people, a Mongoloit
race, except a few in Assam plain, Imphal Valley in Manipur, and
Bengalis in Tripura. Each tribe speaks their own tribe dialects.
Some of the Scholars said that there are more than 400 dialects
spoken in the North East, hence, so diverse indeed. As there is
no peace in the world without its fair share of problems, so
also North East India has been living with its own share of
suffering due to violent conflicts between communities and
groups due to many reasons.There is an ongoing struggle by
people trying to establish their rights to autonomy, in most of
the seven north eastern states, which has led to political
instability, strife and outright violence in the region. Strong
inter-ethnic rivalries have aggravated the cycle of violence.
Army operation, rampant human rights violation by the security
personnel under the shadow of Armed Force Special Power Act 1958
[AFSPA] intensified the violence. Political unrest has created
difficult condition for the people in the region. All this
situation makes people suffer and confused. Young people are
frustrated and turn to arm activities, which lead to violent and
conflict in the region.
Our
Message:
Where war rages the
fiercest, a message of peace sounds all the more refreshing and
healing. In the midst of strife, the Gospel ought to be
primarily about God who is our peace. Educating people to be
peacemakers should be the ongoing missions of the faith based
organization and civil society. The message of peace and the
service of reconciliation is what are most needed of our time
for the healing of hurts, wounds and broken relationship.
Our response to pain
and suffering is not retaliation. It is also not the philosophy
of “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth’.
Suffering and pain has a redemptive value. Tears have power.
Blood of the victims that fall to the ground, calls for the
attention of God and fellow beings. We have to develop a
theology of “Transformation” and a theology of “Reconciliation”,
and “Peace Building and Healing” in the North East
India, for the ‘healing’ of the people and community from their
hurts and wounds.
To be in solidarity
with the women and girls and to respond to the situation, “An
Interfaith women journey of Healing overcoming violence
for Peaceful coexistence” A journey that would seek
to clarify and understand the causes of violence in our society
underlying societal conflicting conditions that fragment the
community of love and peace. It seeks to find ways and means to
develop a sense of solidarity and healing with those who are
victims of violence particularly women and girls is being
initiated by Interfaith Coalition for Peace. The objective of
the journey was to seeks the experience of women and girls and
the human suffering created by ethnic and communal conflict and
violence that affect peaceful coexistence in the region.
October 8, 2008.Day
began with the brief introduction of the participants. Rev.
Awala Longkhumer shared about the objectives of the
journey of healing. Respect of each other religion and trying to
come out from our own respective community is the very need of
the hour. In the midst of conflict and war women and children
are the most vulnerable group. In all communities women are so
active in making peace. I should say that our society to day is
survive because of women involvement in all ways to keep the
family and community in peaceful condition. However, often this
is not fully acknowledged. During conflict and war the
experience of women is different from the experience of men.
Women became the victim of sexual abuse, molestation, rape,
losing their husband and sons [some killed while some
just simply missing
without any knowledge whether they are alive or killed] the
trauma that women go through is unimaginable. In this juncture
only women can help women in healing her wounds of trauma. All
of us are heavily engaged in some ways in peace building works.
However, we are all combined to our own ethnic community or our
own religious community. It is now high time that women of
different religion or faith should come together to bring peace
and harmony in our land. This journey of healing is an attempt
to bridge the gap between different community religious group
and also between hill and the valley. This is also one of my
concern that I as an non-Manipuri see that the hill people and
valley people are not together. If we are not together how can
we expect peace and harmony in the state? Instead there is
always tension and conflict, this is a challenge for us
particularly the Manipuirs, we should work together for the
benefit of our people.
1. Listening to
Mr. Sharing who is the elder brother of Ms. Irom Sharmila:
We wanted to meet Ms. Irom Sharmila but as she is under
the police custody it was not possible because of the security
reason. Therefore, we invited Mr Sharing the elder brother of
Ms. Irom Sharmila to share about the journey and experience of
Sharmila who is fasting since the year 2000 against the
imposition of Arm Forces Special Power Act 1958.[AFSPA] in
Manipur. A very powerful lady, who believed in the religion of
humanity. Since her early life she has very keen interest in
social issues and problems. She was one of the columnists of the
local newspaper “Huyen Lanpao”. Every morning she used to do
4hrs of Yoga she is also pure vegetarian .At the same time she
has knowledge about nature cure therapy. Her life got changed
after the Malom massacred on 2nd Nov.2000 where ten
people were killed by the Indian Army. After couple of days, on
4th Nov.2008 she started the journey of fasting to
remove the AFSPA. She even fasted in Delhi since Oct.2006 On 4th
March 2007 she was bought back to Manipur. This is a very
non-violent way of protesting against the draconian Act.
According to her family she was born for the good cause of the
Nation.
Even now she is
under the custody of Police under Section 309 of Indian
Constitution. which says an attempt to commit suicide is an
offence against her. It’s been more than seven years still there
is not a positive response from the Government side. At the
initial stage Shramila’s brothers and sisters have experienced
lots of tortured from police Commandos. It was really hard for
them to cope up and come out from such kind of situation. Her
message to the people is ”her struggle itself is the message”.
Unfortunately, it is observed that, in all these process of
journey what the family missed is the presence of religious
leaders.
2. Listening to
Mrs. Kim Vaiphai victims survivors shared her story of shock and
horror.
Three years ago on
28th Sept.2005 Mr. Vaiphu the husband of Kim Vaiphai
was shoot death in his residence by some unknown person. He was
a teacher by profession and later turn into politician. On that
very particular evening he invited his friends and relatives for
dinner in their house. Just before dinnerh He went out to visit
his elder brother, which is next to their house. Unfortunately
he was shoot death by some unidentified people. Still the family
has no clue or idea about who is the responsible for the killing
nobody claim either.
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Mrs. Kim Vaiphei a victim survivor sharing the story of
her trauma. |
He was a very kind
hearted and generous man. So his family can’t imagine of any
enemy or suspect. The entire incident was indeed a very
shocking for the whole family. While asked if she has feeling of
taking revenged ? Mrs Kim replied that she does not have the
feeling of taking revenged. When asked how she could cope with
the incident, she keep herself busy occupied was the answer.
“Every day I live with the trauma of shock not knowing who is
the killer of my husband tears rolling down her checks” Luckily,
Church pastor visit often and pray for her family. Also
community support is very strong. This helps her to cope with
the situation and over come the pain to some extent.
Post Lunch
Session:
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Core team members at Kangla, a secret historical place
for peace building process. |
After lunch the Core
team members Visit Kangla. The very place where the Meira Paibis
[The Metei Women Torch bearer] protested in the year 2003
against the raped and murder of Thangjam Manorama Devi. By Assam
Reflis.
Core Team Meeting
with some Meira paibis (Women torch bearer) members
Core team members
meeting with a group of Meira Paibis [Manipur women Torch
Bearers] in Urimpok. It was a very healthy interaction between
the core group and the meira paibis. Listening to the story of
how this women folk began this journey. Since the early years
Manipuri women’s are very powerful. The history of Manipur
experienced two Nupi Lan (women’s war) first in 1904 and second
in1939.
Core team members with a group of Meira Paibis.
How Meira Paibis started goes back to 1975 after Manipur
attained Statehood in 1972. First Nisha Bandh was formed, a
movement against alcohol and drugs. In the process the women
folk felt the need to response to the army atrocities. In April
1980 the search operation was conducted by the CRPF where many
innocent people were beaten, killed and murdered. Many men went
missing which till today no clue wheter they are alive or
killed. After this incident Meira Paibis was formed. Changing
the name from Nisha Bandh to Meira Paibis. Apart from the bandh
on alcohol and drugs now Mera Paibis are now into more social
issues. They are playing a role of peace builders. The AFSPA was
introduced in the hilly region of Manipur in 1961 and in valley
in Sept.1980.
One of the
significant conflict prevention done by the Meitei Women was
during the Meitei and Pangal (Muslim) riots in May 1993 the
Meira Paibis played the role of mediation thus they could
managed to control riots saving many innocent people. Their
own stories and experiences are the sources of motivation for
them. They envision of peaceful society where everyone’s live
with respect and dignity. They also want to bridge the existing
gap between hill and valley people for a peaceful society we
need equal participation. It is the fact that, there exist huge
gap between hill and plain in Manipur They also show a keen
interest in doing a follow up program with the group.
Day 2: Core Team
Journey to Churachandpur.
Churchandpur one of
the district of Manipur. 64Km away from Imphal. Zoumi, Mar,
Paite, Kuki etc are some of the major tribes living there.
Rev. Awala Longkumer
lighted a Candle as a symbol that “We journey together with the
women victims of ethnic conflict and Indian Army atrocities
sharing their pain, agony, trauma with a message that they are
not alone there are millions of women experiencing the same
everyday. We may be broken but we are not lost. We are strong
woman created in God image with a purpose. We shall gather all
our broken pieces and stand together in unity and Journey
Together Healing each others wounds experiencing the Peace in
ourselves as well as community.
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After a brief
introduction of the participants and the core team, the time was
given to participants to share their Trauma experience of
horror due to conflict, violence, displacement etc. Every women
story was shocking, very touchy and different one. Though they
sounds to be different but down the stream line there is only
one caused for it. And cause is conflict. Conflict could be of
any form taking from arm conflict to family conflict. The
consequences of the conflict are affecting our whole society.
Women and Children are the most vulnerable victims of it.
Some of the major problems are displacement, land issue,
dissertation by their husband, domestic violence, sexual
molestation, rape, women and children [particularly girl child]
living with trauma for a life long, and even women are deprived
of their respective rights due to the practice of customary
laws.
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Most of the
women are uneducated and financially not sound too. So
they are not aware of the women’s right and the
various provisions that are provided to women which they
can avail. For instance a woman shared that her husband
is in Indian Army. And after five years of marriage he
got married to another woman. Now he is leaving with her
second life. He has run away from his responsibility of
being a husband and a father. She is helpless and
doesn’t feel secure anymore. She wants to divorce him
but she is not aware of the legal process. At the same
time because of financial constraint at times she is
helpless. Apart from this problem she is responsible for
her four children. She is surviving by selling
vegetables. |
Woman traumatized by the violence, refused to talk to
anyone after the violence. |
While sharing one of
women express that in today’s world everyone is too busy and
preoccupied by their work. In fact no one has a time to actually
listen to our stories and pains. At times, even religious
leaders fail to heal us. Today’s program is a new experiences
for all the women here particularly the victim women. The coming
of core group and listening to us itself is a healing for us.
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Victims survivor crying while sharing her experience of
raped victims during the conflict. |
Among the
participants there were women, who lost their husband
during 1997 Ethnic Conflict, some of their sisters were
molested and raped , some of them have experienced
severe domestic violence and some of them were send back
from their marital home. These are not the stories of
only few women living in the Churchanpur. These are the
stories of you, me and for all the women in the world
and those who are living in the midst of conflict and
war. |
A woman wipe
away her tears as she narrate her story of violence.
After lunch we
listen to a survivors of raped victims. A 22 years old. (She
doesn’t want her identity to be disclosed). She also did not
want the presence of many she wanted to talk only with Rev.
Awala. Accordingly with Rev. Awala three interpreters were
present in the sharing. She was sexually molested and raped
during the Ethnic conflict in the village of Parbung under
churchandpur Dist. Manipur in the year January 2006. Because of
the fear of the further incident she fled to Mizoram and took
shelter in one of the refugee camp between Manipur and Mizoram
boundary. When the situation becomes little normal her parents
bought her to Churchanpur. At present she is undergoing a
vocational training in a Church run institution.
After the incidence
she really has the feeling of taking revenge. But as time goes
she has become stronger person and trying to overcome the
situation. She forgives those persons who have done such an
inhuman act to her but she can’t forget the incident.
When asked what message she wants to send out? She replied that
she doesn’t want this to happen to any girls and women in the
world. Saying that she has under gone additional pain and trauma
than other people. The culprits will never be happy in their
life time she said.
When asked about the
role of the religious leader in connection with the care and
counseling she replied that the village pastor did pastoral
prayer in the church on the Sunday morning for all those who
have faced such problem. But the pastor never visited the house
and never gave any counseling to her.
Here the important
of women ministry comes in. For instance when we went to meet
her she was not really ready to share with us. Somehow Rev.
Awala spoke to her in very compassionately and caring. Later she
was convinced and trusted us. We are really thankful Mary Beth
of Rural Women Upliftment Society(RWUS ), Zoumi Mother’s
Association for all the logistic arrangement and mutual co
operation and support. We also thank Paite Tribe Council for
giving their conference hall.
Day 3: Oct.10th
2008 One day workshop held at Manipur Baptist Convention
Conference Hall.
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Muslim woman leading the
devotional
prayer |
Hindu Woman Pray for peace |
The programmed began
at 10 am with the prayer from different Faith traditions:
Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Bahai, Sanamahe (Meitei Indigenous
Faith),Thingkao (Kuki Indigenous Faith).
A Bahai Woman Devotional Prayer
Self introduction of the participants:
After the self
introduction Rev. Awala Longkumer brief about the aims and
objectives of this journey of healing. I all war and conflict
the experience of women is different from men. Due to practical
limitations men cannot help women adequately. Only women can
help women. Awala said. Unfortunately today
we are living in a time of war, ethnic conflict and communal
riots. Manipur have no exemption. In the process Manipuri women
have suffered enough. Many of us even here have experienced the
horror of losing our love ones in the family. Displacement many
of you had to leave your original place and move to some other
place for safety. Now many face lots of problem of adjustment.
Rev Awala
Longkumer talks about objective of the Journey.
Properties worth millions of rupees have been turned into
ashes and now we are facing acute poverty. All these problems is
our own creations and we have to solve it ourselves. Some one
from outside will not come and solve our problems. On the
other had all the section of women is involve in peace building
activities? However, all of us are combined to our own religious
group and our own community. Now it is high time that we come
together and stand in one mind and voice if we are to exist in
peace and harmony. I am a ordained minister in the Church and I
have been involve in peace building ministry for the last more
than ten years. However, most of my work was combined to Church
and Christian community. But now I realized that if I do
not work with my friends of other faith we will never attain the
Peace. So I come with the “Message that Let us work and exist
together in Peace and Harmony for I cannot exist without you
neither do you. Let us respect each other’s religion and respect
each other. I am not better than you and you are not better that
me we are equal and we have got lots to contribute to the
society” says Rev. Awala Longkumer.
Women of faith
both religious and civil society group shared their role in
peace building activities.
Hindu Women:
A Hindu Women start
her day with the worship of Lord Surjadev (The Sun). She prays
for the safety and secure of her family for the day ahead.
According to her maintaining peace and harmony within the family
is the stepping stone in order to bring peace in our society.
Bahai:
Equal
participation is the cardinal principle of the Bahai faith. The
world of humanity got two wings. The wings need to be equally
strong in order to fly. Likewise in order to achieve peace in
the society we need equal participation of both man and women.
Prayer can keep the whole world connected for unity and peace.
It is the only faith without rite and rituals.
All Tribal
Welfare Women Association , Chandel Dist.
After the
1997 Ethnic conflict the perspective of religion changed. We
realize that we need a change and unite our self because our
religion promote peace not violent activity. In bringing peace
in the society women has to play a major role. Focusing in this
we advocate at the same time organized workshop.Equal
participation of women is the need of the hour. In that way we
can reduce and prevent violence and conflict to some extent. She
sited the example of a raped case where one tribal lady was
raped by Muslim man and was killed inhumanly. During that time
there was about to broke the clash between Muslim and the tribal
in that region. All tribal Welfare Women Association plays the
role of mediator and resolved the conflict peacefully.
Manipur Baptist
Convention Women involvement in Peace building process:
MBC Women activity
started in the early 90’s, when there was lost of turmoil in the
society due to ethnic conflict and Indian army artocities. Where
people are suffering and going through lots of pain. We go and
do prayer for those who are in pain, who have lost there near
and dear ones. We fast and pray for the families and
individuals. Women and mothers also teaches about love and peace
to Sunday school children. Women should work for the women sake.
Women alone can help women to grow and come out of trauma of
violence. We are also working in the field of HIV/AIDS. We also
encourage women to come out and work for one cause “peace”. In
connection with that we have also organized many trainings
and program. Through the Organization we have tried our best
to empower the women. We gave them moral support apart from
vocational training. So that they can earn and live with
dignity. Apart from that we organized seminar for widow by
conflict to create platform where they can come together and
share their sorrow and pain as sharing itself is a healing. And
this interfaith women program of journey of healing is the first
of its kind thanks to Awala for bringing such approach to
Manipur. This will be the stepping stone for the culture of
peace and harmony in the region particularly in Manipur.
Thingkao (Kuki
Tribe Indigenous):
Thingkao is
a very small community with twenty to thirty thousand in number.
Thingkao doesn’t have a script of its own. It has oral tradition
to transfer of moral teaching and wisdom from generation to
generation. There is no discrimination of women in Thingkao
indigenous community. Though man and son are given first
preferences in the decision making body. But when there is
conflict women play the role of mediator. We also have Women
Forum who is working on the women’s issues.
Feed Back:
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Feel
very happy being Muslim women. Looking forward for
further programmed
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First
time experienced to interact with between different
religious women. This is wonderful experience
looking forward for further continuity.
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Coming
of different faith community together is a wonderful
experience this is my first experience of mixing
with other faith people. If we come together and
work in unity then we can bring peace and
justice in the society.
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Little
hesitate because it’s her first time coming up and
sharing but it’s going to be a stepping stone for
her to move ahead.
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All
mothers should come together for peace. In order to
save our society. Indeed role of the God fearing
mother is very important in our society.
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Participants giving feedback. |
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We should not
discriminate each other base on the religion. We all are
coming together for one cause. Let’s join hand and work for
the betterment of the society.
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First time to
interaction with women of different faith we should continue
this process.
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Women are
empowered and gifted with many qualities from God we need to
appreciate ourselves.
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Learn and gain
more knowledge about women. Realize that women can
contribute a lot in peace building.
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Confined in home
most of them. Getting opportunity to interact and know more
each other better. It’s a learning process for women indeed.
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Really want to
join such kind of program again. Let’s join hand and
organized for bigger program very soon.
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We need to know
each other very well from different angles and perspective.
Because we still have the feeling of alienation within us.
So it’s time to cultivate the feeling of oneness. Let’s
explore each other more.
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Let’s make a
starting point from here. So that we can share and develop
more.
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Indeed happy to
meet and interact with women of different faith. Coming out
of home and participating of Muslim women is really
encouraging.
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In order to
bring peace inner peace is very important. Than follow by
the family peace, than to the society. Harmony of mental
peace and conservation of nature environment peace is the
need of the hour.
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Living in
peaceful coexistence.
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Inner healing
will naturally generate physical healing.
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To organized
awareness programmed on women’s right’s and issues
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It’s worth
attending such kind of programmed. Code the Napolean ”give
me ten good mother I’ll give you a one good nation” so lets
try to be one of them.
Recommendation
and Action Plan:
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We shall have
another bigger gathering in the early part of 2009.
Women of faith going out with light to heal the wounds of the
world
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We shall
organize similar programs in our own community to educate on
interfaith because interfaith is new to many.
A word of Thanks
from Dr. Leban the local coordinator:
We thank Rev. Awala
Longkumer for coming to Manipur with new approach to Peace and
Healing. This area of Interfaith we the Manipuri people have not
tried. A non Manipuri woman coming to Manipur indicates that she
has great concern for the Manipur situation. This is challenge
to Manipuri women in fact. This is a Mile Stone and we request
and wish that Awala continue to organize such program in the
future as follow up. You have started so you have to continue
helping us till we are able to stand ourselves. Thanks to
sponsor India Interfaith Coalition for Peace we hope that they
will continue to sponsor. To sponsor we want your organization
to send Awala again and again with such message.
A word of
observation by Rev. Awala Longkumer Facilitator of the Journey.
It was indeed a
wonderful experience and joy for me to keep the team and women
in one flock from different religious community. As it was the
first time of its kind happening in the local grass root level.
There were lots of mix feelings and apprehension among the women
in the beginning. Many of them came with question and curiosity.
But as the days pass by the woman folk became so liberated,
nonstop talking and sharing and in the process some wanted
domination which was taken care properly. The most important
role as facilitator was to Listen actively, Cry together with
them, treat them equally in everything and I believe I have done
it well.
Reported by
Rev. Awala Longkumer
Co-ordinator.
Interfaith Women
Journey of Healing to Manipur.
The youngest participant of the Interfaith Journey of women.
Listening to stories of women experience of horror.
Participants of the on Oct. 10th 08 in Imphal.
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