PUCL rejects bias allegations, reaffirms tribunal’s goal of peace, reconciliation in Manipur

By A Representative 

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has issued a comprehensive response to the concerns raised by Inner Manipur MP Dr. Angomcha Bimol Akoijam (photo) regarding the “Independent People’s Tribunal on the Ongoing Ethnic Conflict in Manipur” report. In their statement dated August 28, 2025, PUCL President Kavita Srivastava and General Secretary Dr. V. Suresh welcomed the parliamentarian’s call for dialogue, while firmly rejecting allegations that the Tribunal’s findings were biased.

“We would like to reiterate that the aim of the IPT is not to widen divisions but to create a context for peace and reconciliation in Manipur,” PUCL said, stressing that the report was intended to provide a platform for victims and survivors to be heard. The organisation explained that testimonies collected over several months from different communities—including Meiteis, Kukis, Nagas, Pangals and others—formed the backbone of the report. 

“The observations and findings of the tribunal are based on the voices of the survivors and deponents from various communities … Not a single person was turned away from providing their testimonies,” the response stated.

Rejecting the charge that the report implied collusion between Meiteis and the Union government, PUCL clarified: “There is nothing in the sentences or paragraph to arrive at the entirely unsupported conclusion drawn that the sentence means to say that the ‘majority’ Meitei community got into some kind of understanding with Amit Shah to attack ‘Christian minority tribal’ in a planned manner. Nowhere else in the report also is any such a claim made.”

It noted that the relevant section of the report only recorded the “widespread anger at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for what is seen as a betrayal. Promises made were not kept. Women, in particular, feel they were used at the peak of the conflict and then excluded from peace efforts.”

On criticism of including Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups in the dialogue process, PUCL said this was a practical necessity. “True dialogue must bring hostile parties face to face and must include all SoO groups if it is to have legitimacy on the Kuki side. Above all, there must be accountability,” it quoted directly from the Tribunal’s conclusions.

The organisation admitted that the executive summary could not fully reflect the depth of findings, but urged that the full text be studied before conclusions were drawn. “Our commitment is for the truth to be uncovered and prevail, however difficult it is, as only through truthful recounting of facts and events can justice and peace prevail and the process of reconciliation begin,” the letter said.

Highlighting the plight of nearly 60,000 internally displaced people in relief camps, PUCL drew attention to “serious health and medical crisis issues in the camps affecting pregnant women, women, elderly, children and the differently abled or challenged people. Worse is the mental health issue which is not being talked about or addressed at all.”

Concluding the response, PUCL reiterated its willingness to remain part of a democratic peace initiative. “Speaking for PUCL, we will always remain available to share our expertise and knowledge resources with the process of peace and reconciliation in Manipur,” Srivastava and Suresh said, adding that the Tribunal’s recommendations provided a framework for urgent humanitarian and long-term reconciliation efforts.