FOCS to go ahead with peace rally
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2025: Undeterred by threats and warnings which have come from different Kuki-Zo groups, the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) Manipur has geared up to go ahead with its planned peace rally.

Speaking to media persons at their office near Imphal War Cemetery today, FOCS president Th Manihar said that they are preparing to take out a peace rally to Senapati.

Participants of the peace rally will gather at the northern gate of Kangla and depart for Senapati between 8.30 am and 9.30 on March 8, he said.

The rally will go up to Mao, if there is time, he added.

FOCS is also considering a second peace rally up to Moreh but the exact date has not been finalised yet, Manihar said.

FOCS, a conglomerate of 20 organisations, welcomes the resolutions adopted at the high level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at New Delhi on March 1 and FOCS would be taking out the peace rally in support of the resolutions adopted at the meeting, he said.

Saying that the rally carries the message of peace and is not meant to provoke any group, Manihar appealed to all groups/communities not to pose any obstruction to the peace rally.

Saying that FOCS appreciates the appeals made by COCOMI and DMCC to put off the rally for some time, Manihar maintained that it would be right to go ahead with the peace rally on the date already fixed as the Union Home Minister has assured that there would be free movement of people on all roads from March 8 and strong actions will be taken up against any one who creates obstructions.

It is the perfect opportunity to test how sincere the Central Government is and how far it would go to fulfil its assurances, Manihar said.

"Let us identify those illegal groups which have been posing obstructions on highways and see how sincere the Government of India is," he said.

He also appealed to all sections of society to support and join the peace rally.

Meanwhile, the Kangleipak Minority Welfare Organisation (KMWO) Manipur has pledged support to the FOCS' peace rally.

A press release issued by KMWO said that its members are prepared to join the peace rally.

It said that members of all communities who want peace and wish to protect the integrity of Manipur ought to support and join the rally.

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