COCOMI will never betray people's trust: Athouba
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 21 2025: Khuraijam Athouba has been elected as the new coordinator of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) for the 2025-2026 term.

On Tuesday, the election for new office bearers of COCOMI was conducted at its office premises in Lamphel.

After the election, the former coordinator Somorendro Thokchom handed over the necessary papers to the new coordinator Khuraijam Athouba.

Announcing the names of the other new office bearers, Athouba said that he takes the new responsibility very seriously and assured to work with his new colleagues to continue guiding the state onto the right path.

Laying out the plans for the year, he informed that COCOMI's central committee had prepared the agendas after consulting with the advisors.

COCOMI will never betray people's trust: Athouba

The agendas would be put into action after approval of the Committee and further discussion with local clubs, Meira Paibi and local leaders.

Stating that COCOMI is not an individual or private organisation, but an office formed by the people for the welfare, protection and development of the state, Athouba said that it will never betray the trust and belief of the people, and sought the support of the people.

In his speech, former coordinator Somorendro Thokchom stated that COCOMI is an organisation whose goal is to preserve and protect the integrity of Manipur.

It is a joint body of a total of 56 state level organisations, with different branches tackling the various issues plaguing the state.

The Committee also has been taking on a huge responsibility with regard to the on-going conflict among other issues, he said.

He continued that in the current scenario, the public are not able to live as independent citizens of an independent India.

The leaders are unable to say anything to the centre and quibbling amongst themselves.

Living like a colonial state under a colonial government has shown the timid nature of the state leaders, leaving the people under dire straits.

The people, in their desperation to survive, are unable to uphold the truth, while the MLAs and ministers continue on with the mindset that survival is impossible, without the centre.

He went on to say that it is no longer possible to identify who is truly patriotic or selfish amongst the politicians or leaders.

If we are to save the state, we need to self-introspect and self-reform first, instead of jointly indulging in corruption and other wrongdoings.

One should remember that many strong civilisations, which gave up the truth, have disappeared from the face of the earth, he remarked.

Somorendro then said that central leaders watched the influx of illegal immigrants into the state leading to the conflict and waging a proxy war, while at the same time "threatening" the state government.

Manipur is now suffering after merging with India and as such, we need to think everything straight, he stressed.

Recounting his experiences as the former coordinator, he said that there were times he had to refrain from mentioning many of the people's wishes and sentiments, in respect of COCOMI's rules and joint decisions made by advisors.

He said that CSOs should not fear in speaking out against wrongdoing by the government, while urging all CSOs and politicians to do what is right.

Failing to do so is like killing the society, he said, while stressing the need for political leaders who would hold the society and state more seriously than party lines.

Somorendro then informed that COCOMI has prepared new guidelines, which would help it to work with the people more closely.

These guidelines would be adopted by the new office bearers, he added.

The other newly elected office bearers are Yumkhaibam Surjitkumar Khuman (assistant coordinator/finance), Laikhuram Jayanta Singh (assistant coordinator/publicity), Yengkokpam Dhiren (assistant coordinator/organisation), Phijam Shyamchand (general administration), and Sanjit Soraisam, Laishram Romesh, Ksh Wareppam Second and Mayengbam Dhananjoy as executive members.