COCOMI censures 'joint statement'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 21 2023:
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has came out strongly against the recent joint statement of Hill Tribe Council, Moreh; Manipuri Muslim Council, Moreh, Tamil Sangam, Moreh and Gorkha Samaj which painted painting a picture of harmonious and peaceful existence of communities in the border town.
The joint statement, in spite of the ethnic cleansing of Meiteis at Moreh, casts a long shadow of an apparent attempt to subjugate Meiteis in the area, observed COCOMI in a statement.
Manipur, having faced many challenges for thousands of years, continues to stand strong, thanks to the sacrifices of the brave forefathers but some people who infiltrated into the State over time have been relentlessly trying to break the State into pieces, it said.
As these immigrants from across the border do not suit the law of the land, they used the May 3 solidarity march to attack Meitei civilians resulting in the prevailing crisis, instead of protesting against the Government peacefully, it said.
Being caught unaware of the premeditated plan, ethnic cleansing of Meiteis from Kuki dominated areas of Moreh and Churachandpur was carried out swiftly by Kukis, it said.
The burning down of Government offices and Meitei settlements, assaults, rapes and all inhuman activities began on May 3 after- noon in Churachandpur and peripheral areas of neighbouring valley districts before spreading to other Kuki dominated areas the same evening, it said.
To cover up their ugly deeds, they dominated both mainstream media and social media sites and filled them with lies and propagandas.
They tactfully portrayed themselves as victims by using tribal, minority and religious cards, it said.
Owing to their acts of terrorism at Moreh, hundreds of Meiteis had to take refuge in Myanmar and around 200 including 60 children were brought back to Moreh after three and half months, it noted.
The Moreh based organisations in the recent joint statement blatantly turned a blind eye to atrocities meted out to Meitei residents at the border town, it said while stating that COCOMI takes the matter very seriously.
Not only houses, shops and other establishments owned by Meiteis were looted and burnt down but also many shops and houses belonging to other communities met the same fate.
The statement citing harmony at the border town ignoring reality is nothing but an attempt to subjugate Meiteis, it said.
Meiteis stand for welfare and development of every community at Moreh and if these organisations really want to restore the harmonious existence, they should lead in helping early resettlement of Meiteis, it said.
COCOMI will not remain silent if these organisations continue to turn a blind eye to atrocities to Meiteis and come out to the media as nothing has happened, it warned.
Also citing rampant extortion of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per vehicle by Kukis along the National Highways, COCOMI said the committee is all set to take stringent actions against these extortionists if the State Government fails to act and stop these illegal activities along the National highways.