Crisis will end if GoI considers Manipuris as own citizens: COCOMI
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 30 2024:
While declaring that it will fully endorse the agitation to be launched over non-payment of compensation to the violence-affected farmers, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) opined that the present crisis will end only when the government of India (GoI) considers Manipuris as its own citizens.
Addressing a press conference initiated by Farmers' Wing COCOMI at its Lamphelpat office, here, on Tuesday, COCOMI coordi-, nator Th Somorendro said that as conflict and economy are interrelated, it has been distributing crop seeds and extending security cover to the farmers by its volunteers to assist in carrying out agricultural activities in vulnerable areas.
With regard to the state government not disbursing the compensation amount sanctioned by the central government for farmers affected by the ethnic violence in the state consequently hindering agricultural activities, Somorendro said COCOMI will extend all possible support to move of the Farmers' Wing to launch intense form of agitation along with the food producers if the government does not distribute the compensation by February 10.The coordinator also expressed that ending the present crisis in Manipur will depend on India considering Manipuris as its own citizen, abrogating the suspension of operation (SoO) agreement signed with Kuki militants and implementing National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state to flush out PDF and narco-terrorists.
Another option for resolving the crisis is to withdraw all the central forces from the state and hand over the task of safeguarding Manipur to the state forces and its people, he said and claimed that such a move will enable help restore peace in just five days.
However, under this strategy there is no guarantee that the Kukis will be able to live peacefully in Manipur, Somorendro opined.
He also maintained that the conflict could be resolved within three months in case the Kukis settling in the state before 1951 identify Kukis who arrived after 1951, extend support to implementation of NRC and help the government and people in driving out the illegal immigrants from the state.
Somorendro said that only if the government considers these steps there is high possibility of ending the war in Manipur.
COCOMI Farmers' Wing co-convenor L Kiran, who was also present during the press conference, said that the farmers were delighted when the central government announced provision of crop relief to the tune of Rs 38.6 crore.
However, the compensation has not been provided till date despite submission of relevant documents to the department concerned, he rued.
Further noting that the chief minister and the agriculture minister had assured of providing the compensation, the co-convenor cautioned that in case the government ignores the demand to disburse the compensation amount to the farmers by February 10 next, the Farmers' Wing along with the farmer community of the state will launch intense form of agitation.