IMPHAL, Nov 6: The Meitei Alliance has strongly condemned what it termed as “biased and selective” reporting by several national and international media outlets, alleging that such coverage portrays Meitei civilians and their civil society as aggressors in the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Alliance asserted that the distorted portrayal of events has harmed the pluralistic and multicultural fabric of Manipur, which has historically sustained coexistence among its diverse communities. It reiterated that the Meitei people remain committed to safeguarding and nurturing the state’s democratic ethos amid continuing tensions.

The Alliance specifically accused organisations and media platforms such as the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Al Jazeera, The Wire, The Print, The Caravan, The Hindu, and the Editors Guild of India of spreading what it called a “one-sided narrative.” According to the statement, these outlets allegedly “legitimized armed Kuki militants referred to as ‘volunteers,’ while demonizing the Meitei community.”

Referring to the ethnic violence that began in May 2023 and has claimed over 250 lives, the Alliance stated that “selective reporting by some outlets has deepened mistrust and communal fault lines instead of promoting peace and reconciliation.” It further accused certain narratives of downplaying the role of Kuki militant groups engaged in “narco-terrorism, poppy cultivation, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration.”

Terming the approach of these media platforms as “predatory activism masquerading as journalism,” the Alliance said such reporting distorts facts and undermines India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Northeast.

Citing a recent documentary by Al Jazeera as an example, the Alliance alleged that the journalist appeared “acquainted with heavily armed Kuki militants” yet failed to question their alleged unlawful activities, including attacks on civilians and defiance of Indian law. The documentary, it claimed, misrepresented the origins of the violence by attributing it solely to a Manipur High Court ruling on Scheduled Tribe status for Meiteis, while omitting the initial vandalism and arson in Meitei villages at Torbung.

The statement also criticized PUCL and what it called “aligned organisations” for their “studied silence” on evidence and data concerning drug trafficking and militant operations by Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur, Assam, and Mizoram. It alleged that such selective advocacy promotes separatist tendencies and spreads ideologies reminiscent of “Nazi-era Lebensraum,” posing a threat to Manipur’s multicultural character.

Calling for “responsible and ethical journalism,” the Meitei Alliance urged both national and international media to ensure accuracy and impartiality in their coverage. It appealed to Indian citizens, policymakers, and civil society to recognize what it described as the twin challenges facing Manipur — militant groups “operating under the guise of ethnic victimhood” and “biased media ecosystems that erode democratic integrity through misinformation.”

Reaffirming its commitment to a pluralistic and democratic Manipur, the Alliance called for collective efforts to uphold peace, truth, and constitutional order in the state, which shares borders with the Golden Triangle region.