Mass burial site will become symbol of eternal enmity: COCOMI
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 04 2023: Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) said that the governments of India and of Manipur should not legalise/issue any permission to conduct mass burial service for victims of the on-going ethnic conflict in any part of Manipur as such sites will become the symbol of eternal enmity between communities.

Expressing deep concern over uneasy situation gripping the state in the wake of proposed mass burial programme initiated by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist group called ITLF (Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum) at Torbung Bangla, COCOMI said the mass burial programme planned on August 3 had been deferred as per the ruling by the High Court of Manipur to maintain status quo ante of the site and appeal by the Home Ministry to all concerned to maintain peace and communal harmony.

Further noting that the ministry assured all possible efforts to resolve the issue amicably to the satisfaction of all parties within a period of seven days, COCOMI said such a development came due to the intense pressure from the indigenous Meetei population.

On reasons for the Meetei population opposing the burial site, COCOMI said ITLF and other Kuki leaders should not invite/incite more violence by selecting a sacred place as Torbung which occupies a significant historical importance to the indigenous people of Manipur.

Every dead body from the Meetei side was buried/ cremated at his/her native villages with the last rites being performed by paying due respect and regard by their families, friends and near and dear ones.

This has helped defuse tension against any other community.

As such, COCOMI expects that there should not be any further escalation and tension among the people of Manipur on account of the last rites of the deceased from either side.

Creating mass grave burial site in the contentious area will not only provoke the sentiments of the people on both sides but also remain as a symbol of enmity between the two neighbouring villages forever.

Till date, Kuki groups like ITLF, CoTU and KIM, which have been orchestrating the violence since 3 May have never done anything that is either acceptable to all communities or as per the established laws of the land.

As the Solicitor General of India made it clear to the Supreme Court of India that most of the unclaimed bodies in the mortuaries are of suspected foreign nationals, verification of the identity of all the bodies of Chin Kuki narco-terrorists are of vital importance with due processes to be done by hospital authorities and other competent authorities as per the law, COCOMI said adding that bodies confirmed to be of citizens of India should be allowed burial inside the sovereign territory of India while identified foreign nationals must be disposed of as per the law of the land.

Stating that it had deep analysis of the letter submitted by ITLF to the Union home minister on August 3 through 27 Sector Assam Rifles, COCOMI reiterated that the governments of India and Manipur should not permit mass burial in any part of Manipur so as to avert possible repercussions in the near future.

It also said that ITLF's opposition to stationing of state's forces in Kuki populated areas of Manipur is totally unreasonable.

The diktat and making it as matter of choice by a communal group is untenable and should not be entertained at any cost.

According to COCOMI, bodies belonging to old Manipuri Kuki group should be taken to their respective villages or birth places for their last rites after proper verification and identification by the competent authority.

Demand for separate administration by Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists should not be entertained at any cost as the July 29 mass rally participated by more than 5 lakh people in Imphal is testimony to the opposition to this demand by all communities of the state.

The COCOMI also made it clear that all missing 24 Meetei civilians kidnapped and presumed murdered by suspected Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists should be handed over to their respective families as soon as possible.

Search operations should be conducted at the suspected sites to rescue or recover their bodies as quickly as possible.

The bodies lying in Churachandpur hospital morgue should be handed over to their respective families at the earliest possible.

Apart from urging the Union home minister to advise and impress upon ITLF, CoTU and Kuki Inpi Manipur to restrain from intensifying the present crisis without any valid cause, the COCOMI said it expects ITLF, CoTU and Kuki Inpi to follow the rules of law of the land as there is sheer and utter disregard for any law in Chiri-Kuki-Zo dominated areas.

Considering the gravity of the situation and the sudden plan for mass burial programme by ITLF, it urged state and Central governments to take up all possible means to prevent any further unwanted incidents.

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