ITLF's statement will heighten tension: COCOMI
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 16 2023: Expressing serious concern over the statement issued to the media by Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) on its preparation to set up 'self-government/separate administration' for Kuki-Zo people in Manipur, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) said the ITLF statement will escalate tension among communities inhabiting the state.

According to COCOMI, the ITLF statement with preparation for setting up self-government came at the time when the committee has been discussing on whether Kuki-Zo communities living in Manipur for a long time would be able to live together again or not.

Issuing a statement unacceptable at all to the people through media by ITLF would rather turn out to be a self-ploy for the Kuki-Zo people not to live together with other communities of Manipur again, a COCOMI statement issued by media coordinator Somorendro Thokchom said.

The nomenclature Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum itself is unacceptable to the entire community settling in Manipur and this must be understood by ITLF.

At the time when people are questioning the origin of ITLF leaders, the forum declaring preparations to set up 'self-government' would be self-arrangement of the Kuki-Zo community not to live any longer in Manipur, the COCOMI said.

Both the state government and the Centre are well aware that illegal immigrants are behind the violence in Manipur.

During an interaction with the media in New York (USA) recently, external affairs minister Jaishankar said that large-scale influx of illegal immigrants caused the violence in Manipur.

Despite knowing that armed groups trying to break apart neighbouring Myanmar and those trying to disintegrate Manipur have very close relations, the Government of India remains mute as people of Manipur continue to suffer endlessly, the COCOMI said and questioned Government of India's hidden agenda behind the violence.

It also said that the Government of India must clarify the hidden agenda to the people of Manipur.

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