COCOMI calls for human chain protest today
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 05 2024: In protest against alleged inaction by central and state governments despite growing threat to national security aftermath of the recent drone bomb attacks, Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) called upon the people to form human chain on all main roads from 11am to 12pm Friday.

In a press meet held at its Lamphel office on Thursday, COCOMI coordinator Thokchom Somorendro ridiculed hesitancy by the central government to act when the national security is at stake, as indicated by the usage of drone bomb attacks.

As the state government also lacks firm resolve to take suitable action on the matter, it has deepened suspicions whether the flames of violence in the state is being fanned by both governments, he said, and urged for clarification in the matter.

Referring to reports about the drone bombings carried out from the vicinity of camps/stations of central forces, particularly close to the 57 Mountain Brigade, he questioned why the central and state governments are still continuing to spectate when the situation has reached an alarming point.

Noting that various national media have raised suspicions about involvement of the USA or China and recalling former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accusing USA of trying to create a Christian country in the region, he also pointed out that the national media is now discussing whether the centre opting to remain silent merely to sustain the India-US relations.

Moreover, BSF's former ADG PK Mishra, who has vast experience in the northeast including Manipur, had stated that Manipur would be free from conflict once a particular central force is removed from the state, Somorendro inferred.

Charging the central government of not considering people of Manipur as its own citizens for a long time, he referred to the then Union home secretary GK Pillai's opinion that the central leaders should tender apology for ill-treating people of Manipur so as to restore stability in the state.

Further stating that the people are getting increasingly frustrated with the central and state governments over failure to protect lives and properties of the people, the coordinator equated centre's inaction to endorsing demand for an independent country to the Kukis, just as the Kabaw Valley was gifted away to Burma (present day Myanmar) without the consent of the people of Manipur.

Informing that a meeting of the component bodies was held Wednesday wherein various resolutions were adopted, Somorendro informed that one of the resolutions urged for the removal of central forces from the state within five days.

Another resolution called upon the people including students, shopkeepers, government employees, mothers, clubs, youth and others, to hold human chain protest from 11 am till 12 pm Friday and raise slogans voicing the dissatisfaction of the people.

The other resolution demanded replacement of the DGP and security advisor with suitable candidates, he added.

Somorandro also called upon the people to raise slogans such as "Withdraw central forces which can not protect the people", "Government must declare Kuki militants as terrorists", "Drone bombing is an act of terrorism", "India's view towards people of Manipur is unacceptable", and "Manipur government is diffident" among others during the human chain protest.

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