The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Sunday asserted that the prevailing crisis in Manipur could persist unless segregation between old and new Kukis is initiated.
If old Kukis wish to reside in Manipur, they should take the lead in segregating from the new Kukis, and COCOMI is prepared to offer support in this endeavour, said newly appointed coordinator of COCOMI Somendro Thokchom.
Following the conclusion of the tenure for COCOMI’s coordinator post, Jeetendra Ningomba handed over the charge to president of League of Indigenous Peoples’ Upliftment Somendro during a function held at the COCOMI office in Lamphelpat, Imphal.
Somendro, who had previously served as the media and publicity coordinator of COCOMI, highlighted that the ongoing crisis is not a routine issue faced by the state but a severe external aggression by foreigners.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the disunity among the 39 Meitei MLAs in addressing the matter, he urged legislators to unite and collectively confront the external aggression effectively. COCOMI, he stated, is ready to provide suggestions and support to the legislators in this regard.
The voice of COCOMI, which protests the indifference towards Manipur by the central government, has become more clear, when the central forces remain as mere spectators while the state forces are being killed by the Kuki militants.
COCOMI is a coalition of various civil society organisations of the state formed in 2019 to defend any threat to the integrity of Manipur, he said, adding it is not just an organisation established by some individuals.
Responding to questions about COCOMI’s activities among the public, he stated that since the outbreak of the crisis, COCOMI volunteers, along with village volunteers, have been actively engaged in peripheral areas for the past eight months, without returning to their homes.
Amidst the ongoing crisis, the new coordinator stressed the importance of unity among indigenous groups, expressing concern that pointing fingers among them would be counterproductive.
He urged everyone to stay conscious, united, and collectively address the issue and highlighted the critical need for vigilance and unity during this challenging time.
