Mass sit-in continues against So0 militants
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 18 2023:
Endorsing the call given by Coordinating Com-mittee on Manipur integrity (COCOMI) for mass demo-cratic protests to denounce activities of Kuki So0 out-fits and oppose demand for separate administration of Kuki tribes, mass sit-ins were held in different places on Thursday.
Speaking in this regard, COCOMI member Ch Ro-meo conveyed that they want peace and not chaos but will never remain idle if attempts are made to disintegrate uni-ty of Manipur.
Pointing out that substan-tial numbers of central forc-es are being deployed in the state to ease communal ten-sion and protect and secure lives and properties of the people, he denounced that several houses were reduced to cinders by Kuki militants despite the deployment of central forces.
They (central forces) failed to take any ac-tions even if Kuki militants violated So0 ground rules.
Instead of simply blabbering that government is aware about Kuki militants flouting the ceasefire ground rules, take action against them, he demanded, while appealing not to simply pay lip services.
Enquiring why the govern-ment remained silent when 10 MLAs demanded separate administration, he further questioned why they were not disqualified till now.
Chirom Leikai Lamjing Lup and Youth Convention Singjamei Cirom Leikai jointly staged sit- in protest at Chirom Leikai commu-nity hall; Sega Road Welfare Club, Keishampat Leima-jam Leikai and Keishampat Leimajam Leikai Meira Paibi Lup at Keishampat Leima-jam Leikai community hall; Elangbam Leikai Leirak Ma-cha Nupi Meira Marup and Elangbam Leikai Youth Club (ELYC) at Elangbam Leikai Leirak Macha Machin; Unit-ed Friends' Library & Club Lamboi Khongnangkhong Apunba Nupi Lup at Lamboi Khongnangkhong; Moirang Hanuba Apunba Nupi Cha - okhat Khongthang Lup at Moirang Hanuba community hall; Lion Heart Club, WDA Nimpal Branch at Yurem - barn Makha Leikai; Apunba Lamdeng Khunou Taothong Khunou at Lamdeng Khunou; Loisem Lup Taothong Khu-nou and Lamdeng Khunou Apunba Nupi Lup at Taothong Khunou; All Phumlou Meira Paibi at All Phumlou corn-munity hall; Mayanglang - jing Apunba Semgat Sagatpa Lup at Mayang Langjing So-rokmapal community hall: Phumlou Siphai Meira Paibi and club at Phumlou Siphai; Peace Humanity And Social Development Club Thaoroi-jam Mamang Leikai, Thaoroi-jam Youth Progressive Club Thaoroijam Maning Leikai and Thaoroijam Apunba Mei-ra Paibi at Thaoroijam Man-ing Leikai community hall; Lainingthou Amudon De-velopment Section of Youth at Uripok Sinam Leikai corn-munity hall; Development Committee Youth Section and Kombirei Keithel Meira Paibi at Kombirei Keithel; Yambem Leikai Nishabandh and Meira Paibi Nupi Marup at Uripok Yambem Leikai and Women Development Com-mittee Heirok staged sit- in at Heirok part-II Makha Leikai.
Similar protests were also held at Takyel Khongbal, Khurai Popular, Sawombung and Lamlai among others.
The protestors held placards and shouted slogans such as 'No political rights to illegal immigrants', 'Stop influx of immigrants', 'Implement NRC in the state', 'Take action against So0 militants violating ground rules', 'Stop attacking innocent people', 'Disqualify Kuki MLAs attempting to disintegrate Manipur', 'We want peace', 'Go back Chin Kuki separatist foreigner', 'Stop attacking vil-lages by Kuki militants' and 'No Golden Triangle in Manipur' .