Demonstrations to protect State lined up
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 14 2023: Democratic ' and peaceful demonstrations will be staged from tomorrow onwards across districts for safeguarding Manipur's integrity, said Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) .

The State, at present, is plagued by several issues and unrest, and this necessitates democratic demonstrations to give voice to the call for saving its integrity and interests, said COCOMI president Jitendra Ningomba speaking to media persons at a press meet held at Meihoubam Lampak.

He said the mass democratic demonstrations in the form of sit-ins will be staged across the State starting tomorrow during curfew relaxation hours.

The demonstrations will raise all key issues facing the State at present in the aftermath of the violent clashes that erupted on May 3 during ATSUM's "Solidarity March" .

People in the demonstrations will raise slogans and hold placards demanding the Government of India and State Government to safeguard Manipur's integrity, control the Kuki militants under SoO and oppose the demand for separate administration, Jitendra said.

He said people during the demonstrations will raise slogans and hold placards and banners that read "Save Manipur's Integrity, No political rights to illegal immigrants, Gol should control Kuki SoO militants, Stop attacking villagers, Stop inhuman economic blockade, stop influx of Myanmarese, Save indigenous people from immigrants, save Manipur's forests, Down with narcoterrorism, down with separatist legislators, Go back Chin Kuki separatist foreigners, Gol don't play divisive policy, Gol don't remain a silent spectator, No golden triangle in Manipur, No separate administration at any cost, immediate NRC-need of the hour" .

Urging people to stage Imphal-Jiribam road and the failure of the Government to the planned sit-ins peacefully and raise the slogans, Jitendra continued that the demonstrations will continue until a decision on the next line of action is taken.

Speaking to the media persons, COCOMI's assistant coordinator, L Ratan said while 10 Kuki MLAs have raised the demand for a separate administration, the "old [indigenous] Kuki people" are silent on the issue.

Their silence could send a wrong message to the people of the State as if all Kukis are on-board with the demand raised.

This may be taken by the people as a challenge to the integrity of the State, as such they [old Kukis] should make loiown their stand on the issue.

While COCOMI had served May 9 as the deadline for the Centre and the State Government to keep all Kuki SoO militants at their designated camps to effectively contain all violence, this has not been realised yet.

Kuki militants are breaking the ground rules of the SoO agreement and they are attacking civilians and security personnel, he said, expressing apprehension if the Kuki militants are working in "collusion" with the Government of India, Ratan said.

He added that if the Government of India and the State Government do not take COCOMI's concerns seriously, the committee along with the people may launch agitation to protect State's territory, integrity and 'our political history' .

COCOMI's media coordinator, Somarendro said the committee initially thought of the violent conflict as communal riot, but it turned out be "a strategy to realise a well planned long term policy" .

The 10 MLAs' demand for a separate administration made to the President and Prime Minister, continued attacks by Kuki militants on civilians even though companies of Central security forces have been brought in and deployed are all unfortunate.

What is most unfortunate is the presence of evidence suggesting that illegal immigrants belonging to Kuki Chin from Burma are involved with the Kuki militants in the conflict, he said, urging the Centre and the State Government to solve the present crisis, restore peace and foster the brotherly relationship between the people of the hills and the valley.

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