7-day timeframe too short, says COCOMI
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 22 2025: Reacting to the Governor's appeal to all the people, particularly youths who are in possession of illegal arms to surrender the same arms within seven days, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has stated that the seven-day timeframe is too short.

"The seven-day timeframe for surrendering arms is too short for meaningful engagement with stakeholders and the public.

An extension of more time would allow for better public understanding and cooperation, helping to prevent any misunderstanding or resistance", the COCOMI said in a press release.

Acknowledging that recovery or surrender of illegal arms in both the hills and the plains is a necessary step under the law of the land, the COCOMI maintained that it is imperative to recognize the circumstances that led local youth to take up arms and loot weapons.

This situation arose due to the incompetence of the Government's security forces, which failed to protect vulnerable villages at the peak of the crisis, it said.

The COCOMI maintained that the terror threat remains, as there has been no official or formal declaration of the withdrawal of armed Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups that continue to operate in the hill areas of Manipur with impunity by the Central Government under the deceptive pact called Suspension of Operation (SoO) .

The aggressive stance taken by Central security forces on February 21, 2025 at many parts in the valley areas, violating even the timeline set by the Governor, has raised serious concerns among the Meira Paibis and local groups and volunteers.

This disregard of the Governor's directive has created widespread doubt among the people, the COCOMI remarked.

Asking as to why the Central forces are not adhering to the Governor's instructions and why they are displaying hostility towards local youth instead of following the official directive, it said that such actions have led to growing mistrust within the community.

The COCOMI urged the Governor to initiate formal engagement with local youth leaders to ensure a cooperative approach in recovering arms from civilian volunteers, avoiding any hasty or forceful actions in the process.

"Additionally, we strongly appeal that no legal action be taken against civilian volunteers who were compelled to defend their communities", it added.

The process of arms confiscation should not be limited to the looted weapons alone; it must also extend to the unaccounted number of illegal arms smuggled from across the border and used by Kuki armed groups operating under the so-called Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the Government of India, the COCOMI asserted.

It said that transparency is crucial and reports on the confiscation of arms from the hills must be made public to ensure a rational and fair approach.

Furthermore, the people of Manipur seek an assurance from the Governor and relevant authorities that all armed Kuki militant camps under Suspension of Operation (SoO) in the surrounding hill areas be shifted to other locations so that the law and order is fully restored, it said.

The Government must come up with a concrete, foolproof plan to secure villages, instil a sense of safety among villagers and their volunteers, and provide a firm guarantee that no further attacks will take place, the COCOMI demanded.

Above all, the Government of India cannot legitimize the existence of foreign-origin armed narco-terrorist groups (KNO/UPF) under the pretext of peace talks.

Any engagement with such groups must prioritize National security, the rule of law, and the protection of indigenous communities, it asserted.

The ongoing violence and illegal activities perpetrated by these elements pose a grave threat to the stability of Manipur and the region as a whole.

Immediate and decisive action is necessary to dismantle their networks rather than granting them legitimacy through flawed agreements, it added.

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