Public convention resolves to carry on stir
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 29 2019: A public convention held today at IMA auditorium, Lamphelpat under the aegis of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) resolved to carry on the ongoing people's movement to protect unity and integrity of the State.

Although resolutions adopted at the convention did not mention anything about the boycott of the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival 2019, one COCOMI functionary said that the boycott will continue.

Public convention resolves to carry on stir

Taking due note of the verbal assurance given by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to an 18-member delegation of COCOMI that the Government of Manipur, Opposition parties and civil society organisations will be consulted in case anything which may affect Manipur should be included in the final agreement of the Naga peace talk, the public convention resolved to request the Government of India to take the consent of the people through the State Government and CSOs involved and to make a statement to this effect in the ongoing Parliament session.

Pointing out that consulting the State Government, Opposition parties and CSOs does not mean obtaining people's consent, the public convention asserted that the Union Home Minister's verbal assurance is not acceptable to the people of Manipur.

The convention resolved to oppose creation of any kind of autonomous territorial council based on ethnic lines as a consequence of the Naga peace talk.

This particular resolution was adopted as such an intention on the part of the Government of India was reflected during the meeting between the COCOMI delegation and the Union Home Minister.

Another resolution of the convention demands the State Government to summon a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly before December 10 by acknowledging the points discussed with the Union Home Minister.

The issue of ethnic harmony and administrative setup for inclusive benefit of the people of Manipur should not be decided by the Government of India or a section of Manipuri society but by mutual discussion among the various communities residing in the State, reads the last resolution.

More than 35 individuals including scholars and civil society leaders spoke at the convention which was moderated by Prof W Nabakumar.

As a part of their mass protest movement against any possible negative impact of the Naga peace talk on Manipur, COCOMI decided to boycott this year's edition of Manipur Sangai Festival.

In the meantime, an 18-member delegation of COCOMI held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 25.Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy, Chief Minister N Biren, two Ministers and two MLAs were also present at the meeting.

Amit Shah verbally assured the delegation that the State Government, CSOs and Opposition parties would be consulted if anything must be inserted in the final Naga solution which may affect Manipur in any manner.