Imphal: Amid reports that the Centre has set October 31 as deadline to conclude the ongoing peace talks with NSCN (IM), some of the leading civil society organisations in Manipur have demanded the government of India that the final solution to the issue must not touch the integrity of Manipur or its territorial boundary.
Announcing this, Sunil Karam, coordinator of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), said, “No community-based arrangement would be tolerated and the final solution must not go against the collective wish of the people of Manipur and all these standpoints have been repeatedly apprised to the government of India.”
Some of the leading civil society organisations of the state — All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), Committee of Civil Societies Kangleipak (CCSK), Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN), League of Indigenous Peoples’ Upliftment (LIPUL) and United Committee Manipur (UCM) jointly formed the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in Imphal on Monday.
It would be wise on the part of the government of India to disclose the details of the framework agreement and consult all stake holders in order to explore a solution which would be acceptable to all, COCOMI coordinator Karam told reporters.
To press for their demands on the issue, various Manipur-based civil society organisations on Monday also announced to launch civil movements in state starting from Tuesday.
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Meanwhile, according to reports, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Gaikhangam Gangmei on Monday challenged the state ruling BJP party leaders to make a bold declaration that they will resign from the party if the final agreement of the Naga peace process affects the integrity of Manipur.
“People would like to see a courageous declaration from BJP state leaders that there is no point of having a government in the state and that they would resign from the party if the final agreement contains anything which may disintegrate or pave way for disintegration of Manipur, media reports quoted Gaikhangam as saying.
Former state chief minister and senior Congress leader O Ibobi Singh said that any permanent solution, which would herald peace and development in the Northeast region, would be welcomed by one and all. “But distorting the integrity of Manipur which existed as an independent country for centuries in the name of the permanent solution is unacceptable,” Ibobi Singh added.
Meanwhile, Imphal West SP in a circular said that in view of the decisions taken by the civil society organisations (CSOs) of Manipur to intensify various types of agitation against the Framework Agreement to be signed between the Centre and the NSCN (IM), no police, including women police, village defence force (VDF) and home guard personnel of Imphal West district be granted any type of leave, including casual leave, with immediate effect except on medical and extra compassionate grounds until further orders.
