Imphal: Vehemently opposing the Central government’s intention to engage in talks with self-proclaimed the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the Coordinating Committee of Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) Tuesday said that the so-called ITLF is at the forefront of individuals who are directly involved in the ongoing violence in Manipur.
Their members are known to be leaders of the immigrant Chin Kuki Narco-Terrorist organisations, coercing innocent Kuki civilians into participating in violent activities.
The Manipuri populace has been exposing numerous video footage and images depicting these members brandishing sophisticated rifles and operating drone cameras from hilltop locations within Manipur, the Committee which represents major civil society organisations said in a statement.
The statement further informed that there are also reports indicating the attendance of Zoramthanga, the Chief Minister of Mizoram, at this meeting. This raises concerns, as the current Chief Minister of Mizoram has been implicated in fomenting recent violence in Manipur.
He has openly provided support to the Chin-Kuki Narco-terrorist factions in their confrontation against the Meetei community in Manipur. Various instances have emerged where the Chief Minister of Manipur has vehemently protested against this unwarranted interference in the state’s internal affairs.
Given this context, COCOMI firmly believed that the proposed meeting involving the Union Home Minister, the ITLF, and the Chief Minister of Mizoram will not only offend the sentiments of the Manipuri people but also erode confidence in the Indian Government’s commitment to addressing the violence in Manipur, the statement added.
Before embarking on any dialogue with the so-called Chin-Kuki leaders or their representatives, the Government of India must prioritize quelling the ongoing violence and take decisive measures to identify and apprehend all illegal immigrants and migrant residents who are abetting and orchestrating the recent surge of violence in Manipur.
The nation and the international community now recognize that the ongoing strife in Manipur is not a localized conflict between the Chin-Kuki and Meetei communities; it is a multifaceted issue that encompasses cross-border illegal migration, the institutionalization of Narco-Terrorism, extensive opium poppy cultivation in Manipur’s hill areas (which poses a threat to ecological and environmental security), and the encroachment of illegal settlements into reserved forest zones.
The COCOMI appeals to the Union Government to refrain from initiating any dialogue with these groups until the aforementioned conditions are satisfactorily addressed.
Otherwise, it said, such actions would be perceived as Sanctioning the aggressive Narco-Terrorist activities against indigenous Meetei and other ethnic groups in Manipur; Granting legal protection to Narco-Terrorist Groups (including the Suspension of Operation Groups and Non-SoO groups) operating in Manipur; Legitimizing the institutionalization of the Narco-Economy in Manipur; Promoting cross-border illegal immigration and illicit drug trafficking into Manipur (India) from Myanmar; Endorsing the Chief Minister of Mizoram’s involvement in Manipur’s violence; and Ignoring the illicit activities carried out by ITLF.
COCOMI further said that it will not accept or cooperate with any initiatives from the Union Government unless and until these stipulated conditions are satisfactorily resolved.
