Disclose details of peace talks : COCOMI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 01 2019: Coordination Committee On Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has set a November 4 deadline to the State and Central Governments to disclose the details which were agreed upon between the Government of India and NSCN-IM yesterday night.

The body also appealed to the people to stage alert sit in protests at their respective areas from tomorrow onwards.

Speaking to media persons at AMUCO office at Kwakeithel today afternoon, coordinator of COCOMI, Sunil Karam stated that as a part of the 22 year long Indo-Naga peace talk between the Government of India and NSCN-IM, a marathon meeting was held at New Delhi till late last night and after the meeting, a statement came out that a settlement has been reached.

Disclose details of peace talks : COCOMI

COCOMI welcomes the settlement but keeping the people in the dark without declaring the points or solutions agreed upon, has created apprehension among the people, he explained adding that as the Centre has failed to make a clear statement on how the settlement was reached, the people are beginning to question if the solutions will affect the interest or integrity of Manipur.

Demanding the Centre to produce the points/ contents of the solution agreed to last night, immediately, Sunil Karam further asked the all political party delegates led by CM N Biren Singh, who are at New Delhi to return to Manipur with clear cut information and announce/ disclose the details to the people before November 4 .

On the other hand, he also appealed to the people not to disturb those who are on their way to attend Kut festival in different parts of the State and to give them free and safe passage.

Informing that the shutdown by COCOMI will conclude today, Sunil conveyed that the public alert movement will continue in the coming days.

As such, he appealed to the people to stage mass alert sit in protests in their respective areas from tomorrow onwards.

Sunil also appealed professionals such as doctort, engineers, transporters, workers, artists and others to stage alert protests as well.

He further urged those participating in the alert protest to refrain from using or saying anything which can hurt other communities.

The Government of India must not forget that after the words 'without territorial limits" were added to the truce pact in 2001, the people of Manipur rose in revolt and even burned down the State Assembly building.

18 bravehearts were martyred in protecting the integrity of the State and as a result of the massive protest, the Union Government was forced to drop the three words in the ceasefire agreement.

Similar to that, if the solution between the GoI and NSCN-IM yesterday night, affects the integrity and interests of Manipur in any way, then COCOMI along with the people, will not remain silent and an even more violent uprising than the June 18, 2001 incident will erupt in the State.

Questioning the Union Government and Chief Minister N Biren as to why a large number of para military force has been deployed in some educational institutions like a war scenario, similar to the situation before the scraping of Article 370 in Kashmir a few months back, he said that such a move is totally against the assurances given by the State and Union Governments in the past that the integrity and interest of Manipur will not be affected by the final settlement of the Naga issue.

The rapid militarisation has instilled psychological trauma and fear among the people and the people are suspecting that the militarisation is an indication that there must be something in the agreed solution which affects Manipur, he alleged.

On the other hand, Nando Luwang, assistant co-ordinator of COCOMI, reasoned that as an announcement has been made regarding a solution to the Naga political issue, it is time for the Government to announce the contents of the solution as there is no reason for confidentiality or secrecy.

Urging the Centre to openly announce the points on which they have reached a settlement, he said that COCOMI, on behalf of the people, will strongly oppose any point which affects the interest of Manipur and its integrity.

Cautioning the Centre against playing divide and rule policy, he said that the State Government must take the responsibility of announcing the contents of the agreed solution before November 4.Failure to do so will result in the people considering the State Government as a Government unfit to rule, he added.

Nando also demanded the Centre to disclose the contents first before inviting the stakeholders concerned.

He then condemned the statement issued by PIB alleging that it is contradictory to the statement of the Centre.

On one side, they claimed to have brought a solution and on the other hand, they said that they will hold a meeting with the stakeholders of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur before signing the final pact, he contended.