Tens of thousands respond to call, march through roads of Imphal to bat for integrity of Manipur
COCOMI asks Govt of India to stop insincere policy, rein in narco-terrorists
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 28 2024: Tens of thousands of people belonging to different communities today took out a massive rally at Imphal under the banner 'Save Manipur Rally' .

The massive rally culminated with a people's convention where eight resolutions were adopted.

The public convention resolved that the integrity of Manipur cannot be compromised under any circumstances.

Government of India must immediately put an end to its sectarian approach and the alleged policy to annihilate the indigenous peoples of Manipur, read the second and third resolutions.

Flushing out of Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists and illegal immigrants from the soil of Manipur was another resolution adopted at the convention.

Tens of thousands respond to call, march through roads of Imphal to bat for integrity of Manipur

The fifth and sixth resolutions demanded abrogation of Suspension of Agreement signed (SoO) with Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists and initiation of due procedure for implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur.

No combing operation should be carried out nor any arms should be confiscated from village defence volunteers until the war is brought to an end, the seventh resolution said.

The eighth resolution said that MLAs and Ministers must come forward boldly and take pro-active roles to save Manipur.

The massive rally organised by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) was flagged off from THAU Ground, Thangmeiband at around 9.30 am.

MLAs Sapam Nishikant (Keishamthong AC) and Thangjam Arun (Wangkhei AC) also joined the rally.

From THAU Ground, the rally made its way to Khoyathong, Nagamapal, BT Flyover, Kangla Western Gate, Kanglapat road, North AOC and Minuthong before it was wrapped up at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium.

Slogans such as "India's policy to annihilate indigenous peoples of Manipur must be put to an end immediately", "We condemn Government of India's communal policy", "Let's uproot narco-terrorism", "Flush out all narco-terrorists'', "Abrogate SoO signed with narco-terrorists'', "Initiate due procedures for implementation of NRC'', "Don't confiscate arms until the war is over'', "No combing operations until the war is over" rent the air throughout the course of the rally.

Speaking at the public convention held at Khuman Lampak at the end of the rally, COCOMI convenor Somorendro Thokchom stated that the primary purpose of the rally is to protect Manipur in the face of the different strategies devised by Kuki narco-terrorists to break apart and destroy Manipur.

The rally is also a demonstration of people's resentment against the Government of India's anti-Manipur policies and its reluctance to take up any kind of tangible action against the Kuki narco-terrorists, he said.

The rally is aimed at informing the world about the aggression of Kuki narco-terrorists to break up Manipur.

The rally is also aimed at informing Indian leaders and Parliamentarians about the origin of the Manipur crisis and how Kukis started the violent conflict, the COCOMI convenor stated.

In pursuit of its geopolitics, the Government of India gave shelter to several Chin-Kuki militants in Manipur.

Together with the Government of India, Assam Rifles signed a number of suspension of operation agreements from 2005 to 2008 and these manoeuvres subsequently led to the current crisis, Somorendro said.

Although not a single bullet was fired against security forces, the Government of India signed SoO agreement with several Kuki militant groups.

This was done under a policy of the Government of India, he said.

In pursuit of its geopolitics, the Government of India has been scheming to make the people of Manipur the sacrificial lamb.

It is a matter of grave concern that the Government of India still cannot see Manipur as one of its States.

The Government of India and its armed forces still cannot see the people of Manipur as citizens of India.

That is why the Government of India has been watching silently when Kuki narco-terrorists slaughtered the people of Manipur, he continued.

While urging the Government of India to listen to the voice of the people and work sincerely to bring an end to the protracted crisis, the COCOMI convenor asserted that the people too need to stand firm and united to protect Manipur.

COCOMI assistant media coordinator Joychandra Konthoujam said that the Kuki narco-terrorists who are now demanding separate administration/Union territory are illegal immigrants.

Manipur was an independent kingdom with a written history spanning over thousands of years before it was merged into the Indian Union on October 15, 1949.Now the Government of India and the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists have been conspiring to fragment Manipur, he said.

If the Government of India does not stop its conspiracy to destroy Manipur, the people may be constrained to demand restoration of Manipur's pre-merger political status, he said.

Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists have been looting vehicles on National Highways.

They have been engaging in extensive poppy plantations after clearing vast forest areas in the hill districts.

Armed with sophisticated weapons purchased with the money earned from poppy plantations, the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists have been relentlessly attacking the Meitei people, Joychandra said.

He said that 'foreigner Kukis' have been challenging the National security of India.

He also sought implementation of NRC at the earliest.

Even though armed Kukis have been attacking and slaughtering Meitei people, the Central forces have been watching silently, he decried.

"We strongly oppose any attempt to confiscate weapons from the village defence volunteers who have been fighting with their lives to protect Manipur from Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists", he asserted.

Saying that it is not politically correct for the valley MLAs to remain silent when the Kuki MLAs have been openly demanding separate administration, Joychandra urged the MLAs and Ministers to be pro-active in the fight to protect Manipur.

Recalling Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that illegal immigrants caused the Manipur violence, COCOMI's L Jadumani asked the Central Government why it is not doing anything to resolve the crisis.

Even as Myanmar and Bangladesh have initiated strong actions against the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, the Government of India has been protecting the terrorists.

On the contrary, Indian armed forces have surrounded the entire Meitei population, he said.

Yumnamcha Dilipkumar said that the Meiteis have always been working in the collective interest of Manipur.

Most of the organisations formed by Meiteis take the name of 'Manipur' instead of 'Meitei' thereby reflecting their large perspective for the whole Manipur, he said.

On the other hand, Kukis have been working in the selfish interest of only their tribes/community.

To suppress the Meitei community and ensure success of the Kaladan Project, the Government of India has been using Kukis as mercenaries, he said.

Dilipkumar then questioned why the Kukis attacked Meiteis instead of placing their grievances or demands before the Government.

The Meiteis are only defending themselves, he said.

"Meiteis must win this war and protect Manipur" he added.

Retired District and Sessions Judge A Noutuneshwari said that the responsibility to protect Manipur rest on all communities except Kukis.

The Prime Minister and the Home Minister of India must protect the country's Constitution and deliver economic justice, social justice and political justice to the people of Manipur, she said.

She then asked why the Government of India has been treating all the indigenous peoples of Manipur as second-class citizens.

She also questioned the State Government's failure to put any pressure on the Central Government to protect the Meitei community even when the very survival of the Meitei community is threatened.

She further asked, "Why are our MLAs only holding to their posts and keeping mum when their Kuki colleagues are openly demanding separate administration?" .

The retired Judge said that the violence will not stop until and unless all the Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists are flushed out from the soil of Manipur.

Th Bharat of Manipur University said that Kuki narco-terrorists are still engaged in extensive poppy plantations in the hills of Manipur.

He also decried the way the Government of Manipur has been restraining itself with regard to the protracted crisis.

COCOMI Women Wing convenor Leirik Leima called upon all the people to stand firm and work collectively to protect Manipur for the future generations.

All the mothers/women must come out and fight valiantly when any village volunteer is arrested by security forces.

She also called upon the womenfolk of all communities other than Kukis to come out and join the fight to protect the common ancestral land, Manipur.

One non-Manipuri and a member of the Bazar Community who has been living in the State since many years back said that the Kukis' demand for separate administration cannot be justified.

Saying that the Meiteis have been working tirelessly to forge unity among all the ethnic groups, the non-Manipuri urged the Government of India to give special attention to the voice of the Meitei people and protect the integrity of Manipur.

Govt of India's partisan attitude slammed

Speaking to The Sangai Express on the sideline of the rally, an internally displaced woman from Moreh Thangjam Nandibala asked the Government and its machinery not to take sides while dealing with the issue in Manipur.

She said that Kuki people have become arrogant as the Central forces allegedly work in favour of them.

A resident of Moreh Heinoumakhong and a widow, Nandibala continued that she and several other survivors took part in the rally organised by COCOMI so as to pressure the MPs to discuss the concern of the indigenous people of Manipur during the ongoing Parliamentary session.

Nandibala has five children and all of them are at a relief camp too.

Saying that she and thousands other IDPs have been taking refuge at different relief camps without any knowledge on when they can return homes since May last year, Nandibala added that the IDPs too want to live a decent life.

Claiming that Central forces especially Assam Rifles are openly taking the side of Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists, she demanded complete withdrawal of the paramilitary force from Manipur.

She also accused the Centre of being biased.

Further stating that the State Government is unable to resolve the crisis in Manipur which has been going on since May 3 last year, she added that the unity and integrity of Manipur, however, should not be compromised under any circumstances.

All these security forces are unable to stop the hostile Kuki militants and their associates who have been attacking Meiteis, she said and questioned the rationale behind carrying out a combing operation in valley districts 'alone' .

The village volunteers were compelled to come out and defend their villages as both the Central and State forces failed to protect the lives and properties of the people, she said.

Asserting the NIA and other agencies should stop the crackdown on village volunteers immediately, Nandibala said that the conduct of the Government and its machinery irritates them and they no longer fear anyone to fight for their lives and the future of Manipur.

Nandibala said that she has been doing whatever she can to look after her children.

A teenager who took part in the rally said that students can't concentrate on their studies due to the protracted crisis in the State.

Saying that the issue of Manipur should be raised and discussed during the ongoing Parliament session, he expressed desire for normalcy to return in Manipur so that they can focus on their studies and future.

The lives of many students will be ruined if the situation remains as it is, he sighed.