MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on India, the situation in Manipur

11.7.2023 - (2023/2781(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules of Procedure

Urmas Paet, Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Nicola Beer, Olivier Chastel, Klemen Grošelj, Svenja Hahn, Moritz Körner, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Karen Melchior, Dragoş Pîslaru, Frédérique Ries, María Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, Ramona Strugariu, Dragoş Tudorache, Hilde Vautmans
on behalf of the Renew Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B9-0335/2023

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B9‑0341/2023

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on India, the situation in Manipur

(2023/2781(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-  having regard to Rule 144,

A. Whereas the EU and India as the world’s two largest democracies have committed to protecting and promoting human rights and upholding the rule of law;

B. whereas recently violence in India’s Manipur state has erupted largely based along religious lines between the mainly Hindu Meitei community and the Christian Kuki tribe, with over 100 people killed, over 40,000 displaced and the destruction of property and places of worship;

C. whereas Manipur has previously faced secessionist insurgencies in which serious human rights abuses were committed;

D. whereas accounts of partisan involvement by security forces in the killings has increased distrust in the authorities;

E. whereas the conflict has ethnic, religious and political angles;

F. whereas many Meitei seek the same affirmative privileges that are provided to the Kuki under their protected tribal status; whereas tribal groups, particularly the Kuki, have argue that this would expand Meitei economic dominance and allow them to take over land in tribal areas, quotas in government jobs and college admissions;

G. whereas there have been concerns about politically motivated divisive policies that promote Hindu majoritarianism and an increase in militant groups;

H. whereas state government has imposed a curfew, shut down internet since 3 May which has severely hindered information gathering and reporting by the media and civil society groups, and issued shoot-on-sight orders to enforce the curfew;

I. whereas the Indian Army deployed an estimated 10,000 troops and paramilitary forces;

1. Strongly condemns the acts of violence, loss of life and destruction of property in Manipur;

2. Calls for immediate cease of violence, on all sides to exercise restraint and for political leaders to cease inflammatory statements in order to re-establish trust and play an impartial role to mediate the tensions; denounces in the strongest terms any nationalistic rhetoric;

3. Calls on the state authorities to abide by the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which provide that security forces use the minimum necessary force at all times;

 

4. Calls on the government of India and local authorities to allow unhindered humanitarian aid to those effected, and for independent monitors to carry out investigations; Calls on the EU and Member States to assist with this effort as needed;

5. Underlines the need for unimpeded internet access to be re-established.

6. Calls on the Indian authorities to investigate ongoing killings by ethnic groups and security forces and address root causes of the violence in line with their international human rights obligations;

7. Urges the EU to raise the issues concerning ethnic and religious minorities and freedom of religion and belief in regular human rights dialogues with India;

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Indian authorities.