Let essential commodities reach Kuki-Zo area: CoTU
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, August 16 2023: Committee on Tribal Unity, Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi District has served a 3-day ultimatum with effect from August 17 to re-imposed highway blockade along National Highway 2 and 37 if essential commodities failed to reach the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

The decision of CoTU to re-impose economic blockade along the National Highway 2 (Imphal-Dimapur road), and National Highway 37 (Imphal-Jiribam road) came ahead of the political talks between SoO groups and Government of India in New Delhi on Thursday.

CoTU media cell coordina-.

tor Ng Lun Kipgen said that the Union Home Minister during his visit to Kangpokpi under his "Peace Mission" initiative, appealed to the public to open the National Highways passing through Kangpokpi district as a "Goodwill Gesture" .

He continued that the goodwill intention of the Union Home Minister had been accepted by the UPF and KNO, the two conglomerate organisations of the Kuki SoO militants under talks with the government and thus resolved to lift the economic blockade.

However, contrary to the goodwill gesture, the valley community is still adamant in blocking the supply of essential commodities to the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas, he alleged.

He further said that CoTU is deeply anguished by the abhorrent outcome of the highway politics, as the community is being prevented from assessing essential commodities from the valley including relief materials, medical supplies and other basic goods meant for the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

Such flagitious acts have been continuously carried out by the Meitei womenfolk and the Meitei radical groups by enforcing law and order beyond their control, he alleged.

Keeping the sentiment of the public intact, CoTU is compelled to serve an ultimatum of three days to the central government to stop Meira Paibis and the Meitei extremist groups from blocking goods to transport into Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.

If the essential commodities meant for the Kuki-Zo inhabited areas failed to reach within the stipulated time, we will be compelled to re-impose the already lifted economic blockade along National Highway 2 and National Highway 37, he cautioned.

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