COCOMI announces social boycott of Manipur Govt
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 06 2023: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has declared social boycott of the government of Manipur over latter's failure to honour the resolution adopted in a public convention held after the mass rally against Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist here on July 29 .

The public convention had adopted several resolutions including that special session of Manipur Legislative Assembly should be convened within July 5 failing which the people would take up its own course of action.

Declaring social boycott of government of Manipur before media persons at its office Sunday, COCOMI coordinator Jeetendra Ningomba said around 8 lakh people took part in the July 29 rally followed by the public convention.

Among the resolutions adopted at the convention included complete uprooting of narco-terrorists, opposition to demand for separate administration in Manipur, update NRC in Manipur and convening of special session of Manipur Legislative Assembly by August 5 and forwarding the Assembly's resolution to the government of India.

However, as the government has not honoured any of the resolutions taken, COCOMI decided to socially boycott the present government, Jeetendra said and appealed to the people to support the decision taken by the committee.

According to Jeetendra, state assembly session being proposed on August 21 is normal session contrary to proposal of the people for convening a special session to discuss the unrest situation and apprise the same to the Central government.

Expressing deep concern over escalation of violence in the state, he said the brutal killing of three people including a father-son duo on Saturday at Kwakta Lamkhai while they were asleep was the most shocking incident in the history of Manipur.

The place where the three people were killed was heavily guarded by Assam Rifles personnel but how the killers gained access into the area and slaughtered the innocent people is questionable.

Some hours after the horrific incident, large numbers of Kuki women destroyed abandoned several Meetei houses at nearby Torbung Bangla during which the Assam Rifles deployed in the area took no preventive measures, he alleged.

COCOMI also condemned the dismantling of hundred Meetei houses at Torbung Bangla by more than seven thousands Kukis, both men and women, using five bulldozers.

"The unfortunate bulldozing and inhuman activity took place in broad daylight in front of the central para military forces.

Central force personnel didn't try to save a single Meetei house," the coordinator claimed.

He said that the COCOMI would continue to agitate in support of its demands, which include, 'Stop illegal infiltration', 'implement National Population Register (NPR)', 'no division of Manipur', 'protect indigenous people', 'protect forest and environment' and 'stop crime against women'.

Jeetendra then appealed to the people of Manipur to stop seeking help from others for protection of their lives as there is no other choice other than taking the path of self-defence and protection.

The COCOMI is the main organisation of the Meeteis, who account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's around 3.2 million population and live mostly in the valley regions.

Tribal Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts as well as in the plains.

Mention may be made that in the wake of demands from various circles, including the opposition Congress, the state cabinet on Friday recommended to Governor Anusuiya Uikey for summoning the 4th session of the 12th Manipur legislative Assembly on August 21 for discussion on the ongoing ethnic violence and related issues.

(With inputs from PTI) .

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