Many continue to stage sit-ins
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 21 2023:
Many continued to stage sit-in protests across the valley areas in response to the call given by COCOMI for launching democratic movement to denounce in-volvement of Kuki SoO outfits in attacking the civilians and demand for separate admin-istration raised by the Kuki MLAs.
Speaking in this regard, COCOMI media coordina-tor Somorendro Thokchom stressed that leaders of any community should not com-ment detrimental to unity of Manipur in order to expe-dite the process for restoring peace and normalcy in the state.
While expressing that initiatives taken up by the central and state governments since May 3 incident are un-satisfactory, he emphasised that the government should declare Kuki militants as ter-rorists and abrogate the So0 pact signed with the militant outfits.
He further stated that every community should join hands and work together to fight elements trying to sow hatred and threatening integrity and territory of Manipur.
Under the aegis of Coordi-nating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a sit-in protest was also staged by women vendors of Yairipok Keithel at the market on Sunday.
One of the protestors stated that they want peace and harmony in state as in yesteryears, remove Indian Army deployed in the name of controlling the communal riot and withdraw So0 agreement with Kuki militants.
Top Khongnangmakhong Maning Leikai Nupi Lam-jing Lup, Eastern Youth Development Association and Macha Leima VLF Top Khongnangmakhong jointly staged sit-in protest at Top Khongnangmakhong; Hao-barn Marak Waishel Mapal and Haobam Marak from Leikai Meira Paibi at Haobam Marak Waishel Mapal Mei-ra Shang; Youth Integration Club and Inn Yaiphabi Nupee Lup at Keishamthong Maning Longjam Leikai; Khagem-palli Nambul Mapan Devel-opment Organisation and Khagempalli Nambul Mapal Women Welfare Association at Khagemplli Nambul Ma-pan; Yaipha Lamjing Lup at Pishumthong Ningom Leirak; Naharol Yaiphakol at Naorem Leikai Lairembi Lampak; Na-harol Yaipha Thourang Club at Okram Chuthekta; The Social Workers' Congress, Meeyamgi Yaipha Nupi Lup, Ima Pan-thoibi VLF Khongman Zone IV and V at Social Workers' Congress community hall; Singjamei Keithel Nupi Lup at Singjamei Thongkhong; Young Women Help Organisation at Wangkhei Ayangpalli Tham-balkhong Thong; Top Awang Leikai Apunba Nupisingee Lamjing Lup at Ema Emoinu community hall Top Awang Leikai; Laipham Khunou Mamang Leikai Maning Leikai Apunba Nupi Lup and Youth Development Association at Laipham Khunou Makha Leikai; United Committee Langthabal and Langthabal Nambul Mapal Apunba Mei-ra Paibi Lup at Langthabal; Eastern Star Club at Mayang Langjing Taning community hall; Uripok Gopalji Leirak Youths' Association at Urip-ok Gopalji Leirak; Nungthil Chaibi Club and Meira Paibi at Thambalkhong Sabal Leikai; Moirangkhom Sougaijam Leirak Women's Welfare As-sociation and The Welfare Club at Moirang Sougaijam Leirak and WAL United Club and Meira Paibi at Wangkhei Angom Leikai.
The protestors held plac-ards inscribed with slogans including "GOI should control Kuki So0 Militants", "Stop attacking villagers by Kuki Militants", "Stop inhumane economic blockade", "Stop influx of Myanmarese", "Save indigenous people from im-migrants", "Save Manipur forests", "Down with Nar-co- terrorism", "Down with Separatist Legislators", "Go Back Chin-Kuki Separatist Foreigner", "Save Manipur In-tegrity'', "GOI Don't Play Di-visive Policy", "GOI, Don't re-main as silent spectator", "No Golden triangle in Manipur", "No Separate Administration at any cost", "Immediate NRC, Need of the Hour", etc.