Massive rally in Imphal to abrogate SoO with Kuki militant groups

A huge crowd of people marched through Manipur’s capital on Saturday in the latest show of collective “protest against the prolonged deliberately mismanaged crisis imposed upon Manipur since May 3, 2023”. The massive demonstration was organized by Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) under the banner “Manipur Kanba Khongchat (Save Manipur March)”.
Unlike in the previous instances, the peaceful demonstration in Imphal in which tens of thousands of people from different walks of life and communities were not dispersed by security forces.
Apart from members from various communities and tribes, the demonstration was also attended by hundreds of people from various districts of the state.
During Saturday’s demonstration, almost all business sectors, shops, private offices, school and colleges remain shut across the valley districts.
Petrol pumps also remained closed during the demonstration after they announced supporting the demonstration calling for safeguarding the territorial integrity of the state.
A tight security measure was witnessed across the capital city, particularly in the perimeter of the Lok Bhavan during the demonstration.
Additional Central and state forces, including the Rapid Action Force (RAF), fortified the perimeter of the Lok Bhavan in what is said to be a precautionary measure by police officials.
“Manipur integrity today & always,” was one of the many placards with different slogans displayed by the demonstrators during the demonstration.
The placards highlighted various issues ranging from unresolved protracted crisis besieging the state since May 2023 to pending resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Amid the heavy presence of security forces, the demonstration that commenced from Kwakeithal Tiddim Ground around 10 am, proceeded along Tiddim Road to Keishampat Junction which is close to the Lok Bhavan.
It did not proceed toward the road leading to the Lok Bhavan but passed through the streets in the heart of the capital city before culminating at THAU Ground at Thangmeiband where a public meeting was held.
While adopting an eight-point resolution, the public meeting declared “National interest cannot be pursued through a proxy war against indigenous people.”
“Manipur cannot be held hostage to strategic calculation. Peace without justice is not peace,” the declaration further read.
The eight-point resolution, included among others, a call for an end to India’s proxy war policy and abrogation of Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups.
While calling for the immediate abrogation of the SoO agreement, the first resolution alleged that under the cover of SoO, Kuki armed groups were carrying out various activities. It must be stopped at once and appropriate action must be taken. While rejecting the “ethnic conflict” narrative and calling for recognition of gross and persistent human right violation, the second resolution alleged that portraying the ongoing crisis in Manipur as merely a conflict between two communities distorted the real situation and it must be stopped immediately.
The third point demanded a safe, dignified and time-bound return of the IDPs while pressing the Centre for a concrete policy for them (IDPs) within a defined timeframe.
They should be rehabilitated and resettled in their respective homes. Until then, proper care, protection, and financial assistance must be ensured for them, it read.
Cross-border terrorist activities of “Chin–Kuki narco-terrorist groups” must be stopped. Their cross-border networks must be dismantled and illegal infrastructures removed, the fourth point read.
The other resolutions included urging the Centre to uphold and protect the constitutional rights of the people, preservation of territorial and administrative integrity of Manipur and the Centre respecting the democratic rights and mandate of the people of Manipur.
The India Government must implement the NRC or an equivalent mechanism in Manipur and identify and deport those who have entered after the officially determined cut-off year.
It must ensure that the people of Manipur can travel freely and safely along the national highways without obstruction, the seventh and eighth points of the resolution read. Leaders and representatives of various communities shared the dais of Saturday’s meeting. Among them were secretary of Thadou Inpi Manipur Michael Lamjathang, general secretary of United Meitei Pangal Committee Raes Ahmad Tampak, vice president of Kabui Union L Lanboi Kabui.
Meanwhile, talking on the sideline of the demonstration, COCOMI convener YK Dhiren said that the rally was being organized to convey the collective voice of the people on the integrity and future of Manipur.
“No compromise on Manipur integrity,” he said, adding that the government of India should not attempt to divide Manipur, undermine its territorial integrity or engage in proxy conflicts by supporting narco-terrorist elements.
Former COCOMI convener Khuraijam Athouba said that the scale of participation in the rally reflected growing public frustration over the Centre’s way of dealing with the ongoing crisis. He alleged that the ongoing crisis in the state was the outcome of what he described as New Delhi’s prolonged “proxy war policy” in Manipur.
He also condemned while alleging that one year of President’s Rule had failed to restore normalcy in the state.