Statement of facts.

1 Softland is a state in the continent of Greatland. River Thoga flowing through it divides the country
into northern and southern provinces. After attaining independence from Roland, it started facing
economic and geographical difficulties. People from the northern provinces held important political
and bureaucratic positions and this led to disenchantment among the people of southern Softland and
led to political unrest that led to violence. Softland is home to several ethnic groups. The majority
consists of Kamila (58%) and Simlahi (22%) and both follow mayavar religion. The rest 20%
consists of other small ethnic groups. Of them, Kumis constitute 12% of the total population and they
also follow the mayavar religion. Kamilas have major differences with kumis as they believe that the
practices of kumis are contradictory to the religious texts of mayavar religion. The contradiction lies
in their practices as well, Kamilas believe that mayavar religion has always been headed by a male
individual know as Rito while Kumis considered Zomi as their religious head.

2 Softland is home to several important historical monuments and places of cultural value. Softland
has tried to protect its cultural heritage by being part of several treaties which include the
convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict of 1954, and its two
protocols, convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage of 1972
and the convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage of 2003. Kamila feel that
kumis are not following mayavar religion in its right form and manner. They have distinct dressing
style and practices. For instance, Kamilas feel that mayavar should follow the rituals of reciting
prayer at least once a day and should also visit the religious site dowali once a week but kumis have
their own specific rituals that they follow which are very different.

3 The biggest annual festival of kumis takes place in the second week of July every year. It is spread
over three days. During festival kumis visit a place called Kimochi Torami, which means God
resting Place. There are seven such places in southern Softland. Kimochi-Torami is an open area
which contains 26 huts like structure and kumis believe that during festival god descends to the
ground and would reside in those huts. The prayers were also sung during festival in the form of folk
songs and it is believed that without it the worship will not signify any spiritual value. The place is
left abandoned after the festival for four weeks for maintaining the purity and santity of the place.
Kimochi-Toramis are listed on the Convention for safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage of
2003.

4 Kamilas believe that Softland belongs to mayavar, and mayavar should become the religion of the
state. They initiated a campaign across Softland. This led to stiff resistance from other ethnic groups
majorly from kumis. In April, 2015 their was attack on people and property belonging to minority
groups, mainly in southern Softland. The violent attacks became frequent with time and even the
house of Zomi, the religious head of kumis was attacked. A group called Mayavar for mayavar
religion (MMR) took the responsibility of the attack. The security forces started arresting people who
belonged to MMR and found that they were receiving lethal weapons across borders.