A release issued by COCOMI media coordinator Somorendro Thokchom appealed to all the people of the state not to fall prey to the ploy of external aggressions with vested interests. The restoration of normalcy and the rebuilding of the houses and properties of the displaced victims should be the top priority of the people of the state, it stated.

It alleged that the prevailing communal crisis in unlike any other before, as it is heavily influenced by external aggression with vested interests. “The greed and corruption of the external aggressions which include the SoO Kuki militants supported by Myanmar based militants funded by drug-lords and kingpins, have adversely affected the indigenous communities of the state resulting in the prevailing communal hatred and onslaught.

In the wake of the clashes many innocent lives from both communities have fallen victims while the external aggressors enjoys in the comfort of their wealth,” it read. In the clash, many indigenous communities including Khongsai, Thadou, Vaiphei, Hmar and Paite etc., have suffered for being tagged under the umbrella of Kuki tribes, it stated.

“Considering that the crisis is gradually healed with peace and harmony starting to show in most regions of the state, it is quite unfortunate that 10 Kuki MLAs have falsely claimed that ‘no tribal can reside in the valley regions and there is no Meitei in the hills’. Which is also evident by the statement issued by the leaders of Kabui communities calling out the false claims of the 10 MLAs,” it added.