Situation Overview

In Northeast India, violent conflict which erupted in Manipur on May 3^rd, 2023, has to date taken the lives of an estimated 236 people, while also injuring over 6,000, and displacing over 70,898 civilians. Over 8,847 homes have been lost to arson.^{1, 2}

The central government has yet to structure and implement wide-spread humanitarian and legal support for over 55,832¹¹ Myanmar refugees and asylum-seekers who have entered Northeast India, which many view as a major contributing factor to recent unrest in Manipur.

In Manipur, violent conflict continued throughout September with heightened protests, especially in response to arrests made by officials on both sides of the conflict. The majority of incidents of violent conflict took place in Bishnupur and Churachandpur Districts, with many incidents splitting the border between the two districts. Over the month of September, at least 11 people lost their lives, including 4 paramilitary and police officers and 7 civilians.¹

On September 26^th, students took to the streets to protest government inaction and demand the arrest of perpetrators of the kidnapping and execution of the two youth. Student protestors clashed with police and security forces near Sanjenthong, Imphal East, 80 students were injured as security forces used tear gas and batons to try to disburse the crowd.¹⁷ Many students admitted to the hospital had gunshot wounds and suggested that security forces used live ammunition to bring the situation under control.¹

7 arrests were made on October 1^st in connection with the abduction and murder of the two youth, sparking widespread protests in Churachandpur to release the arrested, claiming the arrested were “abducted” by India’s NIA and CBI, and calling for a complete shutdown of Churachandpur,¹⁸ while Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh assured capital punishment for those found guilty.¹⁹ Mass mobilizations of armed crowds protesting arrests in both the Valley and Hill regions of Manipur have made it difficult for officials follow through on arrests.²⁰

On September 23^rd, the internet ban was lifted after 5 months of conflict,²¹ only to be snapped again days later in response to protests of 2 youth killed.²² Also on September 23^rd, Manipur CM N Biren Singh announced the permanent suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allowed Myanmar nationals visa free entry (up to 16km) into Northeast India.²³

In response to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) crisis in Manipur, the Supreme Court gave a directive to ensure all IDPs have Aadhar cards,²⁴ while governor Anusuiya Uikey issued a directive to erect a temporary jailing facility in Churachandpur, as the district currently lacks holding facilities.²⁵

While Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga cancelled plans to undertake biographic and biometric data of Myanmar refugees, fearing that such data would lead to discrimination,²⁶ Manipur has applied for an extension and will complete data collection by March, 2024.²⁷

In late September, India’s NIA also arrested a suspect during their investigation of a transnational conspiracy by armed outfits in Bangladesh and Myanmar to exploit ethnic tensions in Manipur in attempt to wage a proxy war against the Indian Government.²⁸

In Myanmar, heavy fighting remained constant across the nation’s border states. August continued to see heavy airstrikes, arbitrary arrests, arbitrary executions, raids and the destruction of homes.¹¹

Northwest Myanmar continued to see constant airstrikes, mass arrests and arbitrary executions, as well as arson attacks.¹¹

Sagaing Region experienced widespread torching of homes and civilian infrastructure. On September 1^st, over 2,000 were displaced from 7 villages in Katha Township after around 80 troops burned down over 100 homes.²⁹ After the raids on September 5^th, junta airstrikes reduced around 30 more structures to ashes.³⁰

On September 18^th, an additional 3,000 civilians were displaced, and at least 7 killed at 40 arrested in Military raids in Sagaing Township.³¹ In Wetlet Township, over 10,000 civilians were displaced from over 50 villages as 600 junta troops conducted village raids.³²

There are now over 813,50011¹¹ IDPs in Sagaing Region.

Chin State IDPs rose slightly to 48,300 people in September. The Chin State still experienced heavy airstrikes, and frequent phone and internet blackouts throughout September, as well as inaccessible aid and transportation across the Indo-Burma border.¹¹

Southern Chin and Rakhine Regions still maintain a ceasefire between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF). Access to humanitarian aid in the region is still restricted, and saltwater contamination, poor drainage, and sanitation continue to pose severe threats for a rise in malaria and water-borne illnesses across the region.¹¹

Central, Northeast and Southeast Myanmar regions faced severe threats to IDPs in September. Raids, shelling and airstrikes have heavily damaged houses, and reduced access to food and basic needs.¹¹

Tanintharyi Region suffered from increased raids, mass arbitrary arrests and executions. On September 15^th, the Myanmar military raided Let Ku Village, arresting 130 civilians and executing 4.³³ There are now over 82,200 IDPs in Tanintharyi Region.¹¹

Across Myanmar, the Military regime has continued to neglect the rights and needs of prisoners. Aung San Suu Kyi has been denied access to an outside physician, despite ailing health conditions.³⁴ In Sagaing’s Monywa Prison, 14 prisoners are on hunger strikes demanding proper medical treatment and regular serving of food.³⁵ Of the 19, 10 members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who have been arrested, 1,269 remain in detention, and 73 were elected members of parliament.³⁶

A Human Rights report given to UNHCR reveals increases in civilian deaths, children deaths, execution of captured combatants, execution of civilians, airstrikes, and intentional burnings of homes in 2023.²⁷ To date, 462 civilians have already been killed by airstrikes in 2023, and 812 civilians have been wounded.³⁸

Myanmar’s military regime has postponed elections until at least 2025, however, the regime signed a memorandum of understanding with Russia in September to cooperate on election commissions, as leaders of the two countries discussed “voter education” and “effective media utilization.”³⁹

A study also came out in September on the Myanmar military’s weaponization of critical immunizations, most of which are only granted on the basis of allegiance to the military regime. Vaccine participation since the military coup have dropped by 40-50% for all major vaccinations, including measles (91% to 44%), BCG (87% to 48%), JE (87% to 7%), Penta3 (84% to 37%), and OPV3 (86% to 43%).⁴⁰

Humanitarian Response

Manipur Response:

Humanitarian aid in Manipur remains difficult, especially in Kuki areas where education access and critical medical supplies and medical professionals remain largely inaccessible. In response to conflict, the Manipur Women’s Gun Survivor Network (MWGSN) and partners distributed bedding, medical and food support to a number of relief camps in Manipur in September.¹

In response to students injured during protests, the MWGSN and partners have distributed emergency support to survivors still hospitalized.

MWGSN and the Northeast India Women’s Initiative for Peace (NEIWIP) are also working with leaders throughout Manipur to build Gardens for Peace in relief camps to provide opportunities for therapeutic work, and also address food insecurity in relief camps.

Broader access to humanitarian and government aid for IDPs across Manipur needs national and international attention as conflict in Manipur continues into its 6^th month.

Myanmar Response:

In Southeast States and Regions, 11 mobile clinics were held for 634 patients, giving support to 141 pregnant women and 93 children in Kayin. In Mon, 500 dignity kits were distributed to flood-affected regions. 7,350 families in Bago and Kayin received shelter and emergency CRI assistance.¹¹

In Kachin and Shan (North), 2,816 health consultations were provided through 5 mobile clinics in across 11 relief camps and 38 villages. Critical Relief Items (CRIs) were distributed to more than 280 survivors, including firewood and tarpaulins.¹¹

In Northwest Regions, 1,124 tele-health consultations we conducted in Magway Region. In Chin State, 432 families received emergency shelter support, while 112 families received CRI kits in Sagaing Region. 1,936 families received cash assistance for shelter in CRIs in Chin State and Sagaing Region.¹¹

In Rakhine and Chin (South), 23,905 patients were seen through mobile clinics, and cash assistance was provided to 1,100 households affected in Rathedaung Township. 10,200 families received CRI assistance, including tarpaulin and ropes. 35 longhouses were also reconstructed in shelter assistance efforts.¹¹

Regional Backgound

Northeast India is home to one of the world’s longest running armed conflicts, where a former British colonial martial law signed into law by the Union of India on September 11th, 1958, known as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), remains in effect to this day. The imposition of this law over the last 6 decades has led to the death of over 20,000 Indigenous peoples in the Northeast India state of Manipur alone.

Manipur Violence

In Manipur, tensions had been rising throughout April over the push by the Meitei Indigenous community to receive Scheduled Tribe status. Meitei people, who make up 53% of the population of Manipur, had applied for Scheduled Tribe in 2013. Other Indigenous groups in Manipur, including Kuki and Naga groups, fear the recognition of Meiteis as Scheduled Tribes would take away opportunities for education, jobs, political seats, and also affect land rights.

Without clear communication from the Manipur government about the actual implications of approved Meitei ST status, protests became violent. Houses and communities on both sides were targeted. Tensions began to simmer on April 27^th when protestors in Churchandpur torched a new gym that Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was scheduled to speak, leading to an internet shut down.

On May 3^rd, the All Tribal Student Union of Manipur led a march of over 60,000 in protest of the ST status application of the Meiteis, and an armed mob protestors attacked Meitei communities in Torbung, Churachandpur during the attack. Women groups organized human chains to stop armed mobs from entering Meitei communities. Kuki leaders, including MLAs, claim the violence was initiated by the Meiteis and submitted a petition for a separate state, citing fear of future attacks. Groups on the ground have described the desperate need for peace negotiations and leaders from both communities to invest in a mutual understanding of each other and the situation, while also cautioning that there are political interests at play which have yet to be uncovered.

Myanmar Civil War

On February 1^st, 2021, across the Indo-Burma border in Myanmar, the military overthrew a democratically elected government in a coup d’etat which has since left Myanmar (Burma) in a state of violent conflict and turmoil. Fleeing conflict zones where fighting and arbitrary military murders remain a daily constant, many Burmese refugees arrive in Northeast India carrying the traumas of death, sexual violence, and displacement – the traumas of war. With 1.2 million refugees and asylum-seekers, and another 1.5 million Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs), Myanmar has the 6th largest global population of refugees in the world. The UNHCR reports that over 50,000 displaced peoples, including at least 18 lawmakers of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy, have crossed the Indo-Burma border in the last 2 years. The vast majority of displaced peoples have crossed the Indo-Burma border without documentation. Many Burmese refugees do not have access to Identity Cards or the means to fulfil their most basic needs.

A growing humanitarian crisis has evolved over the past two years, and exacerbates the already dire circumstances people in Northeast India face under martial law. Many survivors lack basic necessities, such as food, shelter, and medical attention. Burmese refugees who have not received official Identity Cards are at risk of detention or being returned Myanmar.