COCOMI reaffirms stand on integrity
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 15 2022:
Noting anxiety and apprehension among the people of Manipur subsequent to recent media reports on peace talks between Government of India and NSCN-IM, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has said that all relevant authorities must inform people prior to reaching any.
settlement of Indo-Naga peace talk if it will affect the territory and people of Manipur.
According to a COCOMI statement, Indian leaders and officials often made media statements that final solution to GOI-NSCN-IM peace talks will reach soon with the disclosure of possible pact directly or indirectly.
However, disclosures of possible pact directly or indirectly by Indian leaders/officials on trial basis always create anxiety and apprehension among the people of the region, particularly Manipur and the same has been created since the past one week or so with the Nagaland state election likely to be held in early part of 2023.With some section of the people in Nagaland state threatening to boycott the assembly election if the government of India fails to bring final solution to Naga problem before election, some Indian leaders/officials are asserting the Government of India is ready for final solution and it is now up to the rebel groups holding peace talks to ink the deal or not.
Disclosures of Indian leaders/officials on the possible final settlement directly or indirectly as if testing the pulse of people of the region are being reported by various national dailies with quotes since the past one week or so and this has once again created anxiety and apprehension among people of Manipur, the COCOMI statement said.
The statement issued by COCOMI assistant coordinator YK Dhiren Mangang further said that relevant authorities (India and Manipur government) must inform people of Manipur about the final settlement prior to inking the deal if the settlement is going to affect the territory and people of Manipur.
The same was already apprised to Union home minister Amit Shah when a delegation of the committee met him along with Manipur chief minister in New Delhi sometime back and Amit Shah too assured to do so.
While asserting that people of Manipur have been directly or indirectly put on fire under the shadow of Naga peace talks since the past 25 years, COCOMI warned that any misadventure at this juncture might ignite unwanted incidents and put in a difficult situation.
COCOMI honours all those trying to bring a final solution to Naga peace talks but all the parties in the peace talks must understand that the final solution must not affect absolute history, integrity and co-existence of the people of Manipur, the statement said, adding that the committee is opening its door widely to discuss how it can help in bringing solution to the issue.
On the other hand, the COCOMI statement said that Global Naga Forum (GNF)'s petition to the Prime Minister about Tangkhul community of Manipur enjoying rights under Article 371(A) has jurisdictional issue and this could wrongly portray GNF to the people of Manipur as well as to the global people as Article 371(A) corresponds to people of Nagaland state.
Article 371(A) is exclusive provision of Nagaland state and it is not applicable and related to Tangkhul Nagas settling in Manipur, who have the right under Article 371 (C) alone.
It also said that GNF's attempt to assert Tangkhul in Article 371(A) will mislead both the Prime Minister and the Union home minister.
COCOMI then reminded GNF that Indian Constitution defines Naga people as 14 tribes originated and settled in Nagaland state only.
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