Alert rallies, sit-ins staged at different places
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 03 2019: Thangmeiband Improvement Club (TIC) and Thangmeiband Awang Meisnam Leikai organised a sit-in protest at TIC Shanglen today, in connection with the Naga peace talks between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) .

Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the protest, COCOMI coordinator Sunil Karam urged all, including the 60 MLAs of the State, to stand together to protect the interest of Manipur and cautioned that if any MLA opts to act as per their party's interest only, then it will result in another June 18 incident.

Saying that the MLAs who fail to act in the interest of the State and its people will surely receive befitting backlash from the people, Sunil warned against any attempt to harm the integrity and administrative setup of the State.

Alert rallies, sit-ins staged at different places

He continued that the State Government has approached COCOMI for holding a dialogue although the time and date are yet to be fixed.

If a meeting takes place, COCOMI will reassert its demand on behalf of the people to make the terms of agreement reached between GoI and NSCN-IM public, he added.

Sunil Karam conveyed that everyone knows that the Centre and the NSCN (IM) reached an agreement on October 31 and it is the ultimate demand of the people to make them aware of the terms of agreement which were agreed upon between the two parties and whether they might affect the State and its interests.

The assurance given by the Centre that the stake holders will be consulted, after reaching an agreement, has made the people even more apprehensive and suspicious, he explained.

On the other hand, Sunil strongly condemned the clarification made by the Chief Minister concerning the demand by COCOMI to disclose the details of the Naga peace talks by tomorrow.

He said that the people are protesting so as to give strength and encourage him to do what is right and pressure the Central Government.

COCOMI is highly suspicious that some hidden and explosive terms are present in the Naga peace talks as there are some reports regarding the final pact to be signed on November 15, he added.

Sit-in protests were also held at Thiyam Konjil (Imphal East) by Saman Tangkhul Waithou Chiru, Thiyam Konjil and Phunal Maring and also Khongjom, under the aegis of COCOMI.

On the other hand, the All Manipur Mini Water Tankers' Association (AMMWTA), organised a rally today, demanding the Government and authorities concerned to disclose the terms of agreement reached between GoI and Naga militant groups at the earliest.

They also made it clear that any negative impact to the integrity and administrative set up of Manipur would not be tolerated.

The rally began from Khurai Tharoijam Leikai and passed Khurai Heikrumakhong, Khurai Popular Crossing, Lamlong Bazaar, Ayangpalli Road, Kongba, Singjamei, Kwakeithel, Tera Bazaar, Lamphel Sanakeithel, Chingmeirong and returned to Lamlong side and concluded at Somorendro Lampak.

Speaking to media persons on the sideline of the rally, one of the protesters said that even though an agreement was supposedly reached concerning the Naga peace process on October 31, the terms of agreement have not been disclosed till date which is alarming.

On the other hand, despite the assurance that the final pact will not affect the State, scores of paramilitary forces are being airlifted into Manipur, he lamented adding that all these conflicting developments have made the people apprehensive and wary.

As such, looking after the welfare of Manipur and its people, AMMWTA will fully support all steps taken up by COCOMI in the future, he added.