The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has temporarily suspended its agitation to be taken up if the government did not act against the inclusion of ‘Chin State of Manipur’ in North East Council’s draft vision document 2024.
On August 23, COCOMI had called for public support in addressing concerns over the inclusion of a so-called ‘Chin State of Manipur’ in the North East Council’s (NEC) draft vision documents, as well as the renaming of certain areas in favour of the Kuki community.
Speaking to the media, COCOMI coordinator Th Somorendro said that the planned agitation has been suspended after the chief minister’s office demanded an inquiry into the matter to the ministry of DoNER.
COCOMI expressed suspicions that these developments might be part of a broader strategy by the Indian government, suggesting that the government does not regard the Manipuri people as equal citizens.
He emphasized the importance of forming enquiry committee for addressing such issues, highlighting several key issue that have alarmed public.
Highlighting the cabinet and state assembly’s decision for the withdrawal of SoO, Somorendro said that the state has informed of the reviewing of SoO agreement at the Centre.
However, COCOMI has taken a strong stance against the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militants, particularly objecting to any such agreements involving foreign militants operating within Manipur, he said.
How come the SoO agreement had been done without any conflict between the army and Kuki militants, he questioned, adding that the SoO agreement with foreign militants in Manipur through geopolitics is irrelevant.
Somorendro further questioned why the Indian government has not acted on the Manipur state assembly’s resolution to abrogate the SoO agreement, despite the fact that the same party governs both the Centre and the state.
“We know the history of these 25 Kuki militant groups involved in SoO. The state government has mentioned that the central government is in discussions, but we object to any such agreements,” Somorendro said, adding that there is no need for SoO agreement with foreign militants. No SoO agreement in the land of Manipur, he reiterated.
