COCOMI opposes holding Manipur peace talks outside state

The Yumnam Khemchand Singh-led government in Manipur came under criticism on Saturday for its decision to hold peace talks with the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) in Guwahati, Assam, instead of within the state.
Chief minister departed Imphal around 11 a.m. for Guwahati, where the meeting was convened at a hotel later in the evening. The talks were reportedly attended by representatives of eight different Kuki tribes under the aegis of KZC, with state commissioner-cum-secretary (home) N. Ashokumar assisting the chief minister. The meeting was said to focus on restoration of peace and normalcy in Manipur, which has been besieged by violence for nearly three years.
The decision to hold the talks outside Manipur drew sharp criticism from the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the apex body of civil society groups. While welcoming the peace initiative, COCOMI convener YK Dhiren stated that holding talks outside the state undermined the authority of the chief minister’s office and disrespected the people of Manipur.
Addressing a press conference in Imphal, Dhiren asserted that meaningful dialogue should be held within the state’s jurisdiction, pointing out that venues such as Imphal, Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel or Tengnoupal were available. He further alleged that civil society groups were neither consulted nor informed about the talks, despite their active role in peace efforts since the beginning of the crisis.
Ahead of the Guwahati meeting, the chief minister had chaired a high-level review at the New Secretariat in Imphal with chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel, DGP Rajiv Singh and security advisor Kuldiep Singh. Sources added that following the Guwahati talks, the chief minister is scheduled to travel to New Delhi on Sunday to meet central leaders and discuss cabinet expansion.