Chadong New Site village shows the way of brotherly ties
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 13 2023: Thousands of people across several districts were made homeless overnight on May 3 and the days that followed after ATSUM's 'Solidarity March' took an ugly turn at the border area between Churachandpur and Bishnupur district.

These people, evacuated from violent hit sensitive places, are now taking shelter at relief camps opened across the valley districts.

Displaced and stuck in these camps, they are facing a dilemma never experienced before.

They need water, food, clothes and all basic amenities.

Fortunately, generous people from all sections have come forward and are now providing aid and helping them on the ground.

Now, the generous people of Chadong New Site in Ukhrul district too have come forward and extended their helping hands in this time of need of their valley brethren displaced by the conflict.

Through the Indigenous People's Forum Manipur (IPFM), Chadong New Site has donated vegetables grown on the hills to Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) for distribution to the relief camps opened in the valley.

The vegetables were handed over to COCOMI convenor Jitendra Ningomba yesterday at Wangkhei Boys Junior High School.

Handing over the vegetables brought form the hills, IPFM president Ashang Kasar said all communities should shed their differences and coexist peacefully like before.

He said no community should think of breaking way and separation.

No communities should think of breaking away and hurt the State's integrity.

All communities coexisted peacefully for years and they should continue to exist together.

People of all communities should promote peace and love, he added. While noting the importance of containing the tension and shun violence, Ashang Kasar lauded COCOMI's initiatives and efforts taken to bring peace.

COCOMI convenor Jitendra Ningomba expressed happiness and appreciated the Indigenous People's Forum Manipur and Chadong New Site for providing the vegetables for dis- placed people.

He said COCOMI, on many occasions, had said that the violent clashes were the work of some people who wanted to portray it as a communal conflict between two communities.

COCOMI's view and claim has been proved to be true now that the people on both sides have reduced tension and no fresh clashes have broken out while only the Kuki militants under Suspension of Operations (SoO) are left attacking civilians, he said.

Jitendra continued that the true conflict is between the SoO militants and the people and urged the Centre and the State Government to take action against the outfits.

Until the attacks on civilians cease, there cannot be peace, he added.

Asserting what the SoO militants are doing is terrorism and they should be treated as terrorists, Jitendra lamented that the Centre and State Government have done little and the Central Paramilitary Forces are not engaging them when innocent civilians are being targeted and attacked.

Media coordinator, Somarendro said COCOMI has reached out to Kuki Inpi, Kuki Students' Organisation and United Naga Council to defuse the tension and maintain peace.

While concerted efforts are on to bring and maintain peace, Kuki SoO militants attacking the civilians has disturbed and diluted the efforts, he added.

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