PANJIM: Representatives of various religions and NGOs at a “Prayer for Peace” at Azad Maidan, Panjim on Saturday, expressed solidarity with the victims of Manipur violence and submitted a memorandum to the Centre, praying for the immediate restoration of peace and harmony in the troubled State.
The “Prayer for Peace” jointly organised by the Church body – Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) and the State unit of Conference of Religious India (CRI), called for an immediate end to violence and sought a lasting and sustainable peace for all, wherever there is general sense of insecurity among people of all religion, caste or creed.
It was stated that since the violence broke out on May, 3, as many as 50,000 people have been displaced and rehabilitated in various relief camps.
Most victims are daily wagers and ordinary people, whose livelihood has been affected. Children and young people are deprived of education, and the educated youth are worried about their future.
It is now more than two months since the violence erupted, there are no signs of peace and normalcy returning to Manipur therefore, a sense of insecurity has prevailed amongst the people with a section taking law into their own hands.
In a memorandum signed by CSJP executive secretary Fr Savio Fernandes and CRI State president Sr Flory Rodrigues and submitted to the Union Home Minister through the State Chief Minister, they urged to firmly put the Constitutional machinery into motion to restore law and order in Manipur for return of peace and harmony by initiating confidence-building measures involving all stakeholders, particularly women, from both the communities and to compensate the families affected by the unrest.
In the memorandum, they called for ensuring supply of essential commodities to the general public by removing blockades and ensure that the legitimate rights of all tribals and minorities are protected and promoted without delay.
They called for all law enforcing agencies to instil confidence in the minds of the people and to form an unbiased Central Reconciliation Committee to investigate what caused the explosive situation and propose measures to stop human calamities.
They hoped that both the Government of Manipur and Centre will make all efforts to restore ‘Peace and Harmony’ in Manipur.
Among those who attended the “Prayer for Peace” were MLAs – Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, former CM Churchill Alemao, activists, NGOs and representatives of various religious heads.
