IPFM calls for soul-searching, peaceful coexistence
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 12 2023:
Expressing deep pain over the communal vi-olence between the Kukis and ethnic Meiteis which has claimed many lives of many and destroyed properties, Indigenous People's Forum, Manipur (IPFM) has urged all stakeholders to engage in soul searching for the sake of peace-ful coexistence among all the communities of Manipur.
Ina release, IPFM appealed to all concerned to work together to find common ground for building a Manipur based on the principle of respecting one another's distinct identities and promoting interdependent coexistence.
Meanwhile, IPFM has handed over essential commodities to COCOMI for further distribu-tion to relief camps opened in different parts of the state.
Speaking to reporters during a function organised at the Wangkhei temporary office of COCOMI, IPFM president Ashang Kasar pointed out that Manipur is small state where people of different communities have been living in peace and harmony since time immemo-rial.
All sections of people living in the state should abandon the concept of separation from one another but try to restore peace and normalcy in the state.
It is on this mission that IPFM has handed over relief materials to COCOMI to be distributed in various relief camps.
COCOMI coordinator Jiten-dra Ningomba who was also present on the occasion said that at a time when tension has ceased and violence stopped in the state, incidents of gun firing towards villages and in-juring of Manipur police per-sonnel in hill areas have raised doubts on whether the conflict is war between militants and the people of Manipur and not between Kuki and Meitei.
It is very unfortunate that the central and the state govern-ments are remaining silent at this juncture.
Those attacking the public are no less than ter-rorists, he added.