prominent church leader Tongkhojang Lunkim.
Reverend Lunkim, of the Kuki Christian Church, and editor of the Kuki edition of the Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide in India, was reportedly kidnapped January 17 by the seperatist Kuki Liberation Army. There has been confusion over the demanded ransom with some reports saying the kidnappers want 10 million rupees (about $225-thousand) while others speak of $430,000.
Church officials say however the reverend was kidnapped because of anger among insurgents over his Christian work for the Kuki Christian Church, in the Manipur’s capital Imphal and his writings for Upper Room. "Lunkim’s Christian work led to his kidnapping… He has lived with threats and danger ever since Christ called him," said Rev. Stephen Bryant, world editor and publisher of the Upper Room in Nashville. The devotional guide ministry is part of the United Methodist Board of Discipleship.
He told the United Methodist News Service (UMNS) that the same rebel group kidnapped Lunkim’s son in 2003 and later released him. "Lunkim has persevered in the ministry by the grace of God and with unflagging passion for his people nonetheless," Bryant was quoted as saying.
PUBLICATION COORDINATOR
Lunkim oversaw publication of daily devotional guides in the Kuki, Meitei, Vaiphei and Zomi languages as part of the ministry of the Kuki Christian Church, a collective of hundreds of Christian churches of Northeast India, neighboring Burma and Bhutan.
The Upper Room has a total of 14 indigenous languages in India, including English, Bryant told UMNS. He suggested that Christians in India have lived under the threat of violence for a long time, especially from terrorist groups who he claimed were inspired by radical Hindus "who do not like the Christian presence in the area."
However Christian news agency Compass Direct quoted the Sub-Inspector Khundogbam Kesho of the local Imphal police station in Manipur as saying that the kidnapping had “nothing to do with religion." He reportedly added that police stepped up in the valley area, but did not indicate whether talks were ongoing with the rebels.
WIFE CONCERNED
On February 16 Lunkim’s wife reportedly pleaded with local authorities to intervene, saying her husband was innocent and did not deserve "physical and mental torture at the hands" of the rebel group.
Father Cedric Prakash, director of the Center for Human Rights, Justice and Peace in Ahmedabad, and official spokesperson for the United Christian Forum for Human Rights in Gujarat state, said the kidnapping was both a political and a religious issue.
"The Kukis consider themselves a Christian tribe, so it is not easy to separate the two realities," he told reporters. (With reports from India).
