Latest news with #ManipurPeople'sConvention
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur shall remain ‘indivisible', say Meitei groups
Manipur 'was, is, and shall always remain an indivisible entity', representatives of two Meitei civil society groups told officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday (May 27, 2025), presenting their perspective on the ongoing crisis in Manipur to the Union government. The MHA's North-East Advisor A.K. Mishra led the Ministry's team at both meetings. The officials first met with a seven-member delegation of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an Imphal-based civil society organisation, for about two hours. This was followed by another two-hour meeting with a delegation from the Federation of Civil Society (FOCS), a coalition of valley-based civil society organisations. The COCOMI delegation, led by its convener Khuraijam Athouba, spoke about the resolutions adopted at the Manipur People's Convention held on May 3 this year, which were 'extensively deliberated upon', it said in a statement after the meeting. COCOMI also said it had 'urged the MHA to acknowledge the public mandate and take steps to formally escalate the resolution to higher levels of the Government of India'. 'Indivisible entity' The May 3 convention had resolved to send a message that Manipur 'was, is, and shall always remain an indivisible entity'; declared that the Union government 'either wilfully neglected or strategically prolonged' the crisis in the State 'to serve its own national and geopolitical interests'; called for the Union government to 'formally accept responsibility for its role'; and rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's characterisation of the crisis as an ethnic conflict. COCOMI also spotlighted an incident which took place at Gwaltabi last week, when a State bus carrying journalists to Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily festival was forced to cover up the word 'Manipur'. MHA officials 'assured [the delegates] that the matter has been noted for necessary governmental action', the statement said. The incident has led to protests across Imphal in the last two days. The statement added: 'Both sides agreed to maintain communication and continue dialogue in the future, with a shared goal of restoring peace and stability in Manipur at the earliest.' Ahead of the meeting, Mr. Athouba told The Hindu, 'There is anger amongst people in Imphal about the way things are being run under President's Rule. It is important that a popular government is brought back in the State. They have the majority; leadership should not be an issue.' Outdated moral lens Meanwhile, the FOCS delegation, led by its president B.M. Yaima Shah, largely discussed the 'moral reframing' of the ongoing crisis in the State, arguing that 'senior government officials continue to approach the current crisis in Manipur through the same moral lens that was applied at its onset', according to a statement. This moral lens still 'framed the Kuki-Zo communities as victims of 'incredible brutality'' though the crisis has turned into a 'complex, militarised conflict requiring urgent strategic reassessment', FOCS said. It added that 'if this outdated framing persists', it will signal a 'dangerous misjudgement and failure to adapt to the current threat environment' amounting to 'enabling further violence through inaction or miscalculated restraint'. Principled stance needed FOCS also argued that there is a need to tailor the way the Union government is denying Kuki-Zo demands for a separate administration. Government officials denying this demand solely on 'administrative convenience or feasibility' will not deter the Kuki-Zo communities from persisting with this demand, and 'the Meitei community may find little moral reassurance or sense of closure', said FOCS. Instead, it called for a 'principled stance' taking into account the 'distinctly historic and indivisible identity of Manipur'. COCOMI clarified its position on engagement, noting that it would engage 'exclusively with the Government of India' on all matters related to the crisis in the State, and rejecting the legitimacy of the Suspension of Operation groups of the Kuki-Zo communities. It also communicated its sustained opposition to 'narco-terrorism and armed groups', the statement said. Both delegations also raised issues requiring immediate intervention, such as the return of displaced people, justice for missing people, and the redressal of grievances of the displaced families.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur must be recognised as ‘indivisible', Meitei civil society delegates tell MHA officials
Manipur 'was, is, and shall always remain an indivisible entity', representatives of two Meitei civil society groups told officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday (May 27, 2025), presenting their perspective on the ongoing crisis in Manipur to the Union government. The MHA's North-East Advisor A.K. Mishra led the Ministry's team at both meetings. The officials first met with a seven-member delegation of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), an Imphal-based civil society organisation, for about two hours. This was followed by another two-hour meeting with a delegation from the Federation of Civil Society (FOCS), a coalition of valley-based civil society organisations. The COCOMI delegation, led by its convener Khuraijam Athouba, spoke about the resolutions adopted at the Manipur People's Convention held on May 3 this year, which were 'extensively deliberated upon', it said in a statement after the meeting. COCOMI also said it had 'urged the MHA to acknowledge the public mandate and take steps to formally escalate the resolution to higher levels of the Government of India'. 'Indivisible entity' The May 3 convention had resolved to send a message that Manipur 'was, is, and shall always remain an indivisible entity'; declared that the Union government 'either wilfully neglected or strategically prolonged' the crisis in the State 'to serve its own national and geopolitical interests'; called for the Union government to 'formally accept responsibility for its role'; and rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's characterisation of the crisis as an ethnic conflict. COCOMI also spotlighted an incident which took place at Gwaltabi last week, when a State bus carrying journalists to Ukhrul for the Shirui Lily festival was forced to cover up the word 'Manipur'. MHA officials 'assured [the delegates] that the matter has been noted for necessary governmental action', the statement said. The incident has led to protests across Imphal in the last two days. The statement added: 'Both sides agreed to maintain communication and continue dialogue in the future, with a shared goal of restoring peace and stability in Manipur at the earliest.' Ahead of the meeting, Mr. Athouba told The Hindu, 'There is anger amongst people in Imphal about the way things are being run under President's Rule. It is important that a popular government is brought back in the State. They have the majority; leadership should not be an issue.' Outdated moral lens Meanwhile, the FOCS delegation, led by its president B.M. Yaima Shah, largely discussed the 'moral reframing' of the ongoing crisis in the State, arguing that 'senior government officials continue to approach the current crisis in Manipur through the same moral lens that was applied at its onset', according to a statement. This moral lens still 'framed the Kuki-Zo communities as victims of 'incredible brutality'' though the crisis has turned into a 'complex, militarised conflict requiring urgent strategic reassessment', FOCS said. It added that 'if this outdated framing persists', it will signal a 'dangerous misjudgement and failure to adapt to the current threat environment' amounting to 'enabling further violence through inaction or miscalculated restraint'. Principled stance needed FOCS also argued that there is a need to tailor the way the Union government is denying Kuki-Zo demands for a separate administration. Government officials denying this demand solely on 'administrative convenience or feasibility' will not deter the Kuki-Zo communities from persisting with this demand, and 'the Meitei community may find little moral reassurance or sense of closure', said FOCS. Instead, it called for a 'principled stance' taking into account the 'distinctly historic and indivisible identity of Manipur'. COCOMI clarified its position on engagement, noting that it would engage 'exclusively with the Government of India' on all matters related to the crisis in the State, and rejecting the legitimacy of the Suspension of Operation groups of the Kuki-Zo communities. It also communicated its sustained opposition to 'narco-terrorism and armed groups', the statement said. Both delegations also raised issues requiring immediate intervention, such as the return of displaced people, justice for missing people, and the redressal of grievances of the displaced families.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Row over covering ‘Manipur' on bus: Protesters scuffle with forces, Meitei group to meet MHA officials in Delhi
Amid the growing unrest over central forces allegedly forcing staffers to cover the word Manipur on a state-run transport bus carrying journalists enroute to attend the Shirui Lily festival, protesters, led by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), clashed with police Sunday when they allegedly tried to storm the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. The group's convenor Khuraijam Athouba said Sunday that a seven-member delegation of COCOMI, an umbrella body of Meitei groups, will meet Union Home Ministry officials in New Delhi Tuesday and discuss the present situation in Manipur, particularly the row over hiding the state's name on a government bus in Gwaltabi. He said the agenda for the meeting includes the demand for a public apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla over the Gwaltabi incident, and the removal of the chief secretary, DGP, and security advisor. 'The Ministry of Home Affairs has extended an invitation to COCOMI for an exclusive meeting. The meeting is scheduled on Tuesday,' Athouba said. The group said the meeting aimed to initiate follow-up action on the resolutions adopted during the Manipur People's Convention May 3, 2025 at Khuman Lampak, Imphal. It was alleged that on May 20 security forces stopped a state-run bus, carrying journalists in Ukhrul district near the Gwaltabi checkpost and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the state's name written on the windshield with a white paper. On Sunday, a scuffle broke out between protesters and security forces. The forces fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, resulting in at least seven women sustaining injuries. Condemning the action , COCOMI said, 'The deployment of such aggressive crowd control measures against unarmed civilians, many of whom were mothers and elderly women, is deeply concerning. COCOMI demands that such hostile actions by security forces must immediately cease.' Athouba reiterated the demand for the resignation or immediate transfer of the Chief Secretary, DGP, and Security Advisor.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
FIR registered for unauthorised gun salute in Kangpokpi dist
Imphal: An FIR had been registered by Manipur Police following an unauthorised gun salute that occurred on May 3 at Saikul in Kangpokpi district . According to Manipur Police, local leaders and elders were summoned to the police station for questioning regarding the event. Simultaneously, coordinated raids were conducted across multiple locations to track down the miscreants responsible for organising and participating in the unauthorised gun salute. According to police, law enforcement officials seized five single-barrel guns and a number of camouflage uniforms during a raid. It also added that efforts are ongoing to locate additional weapons and apprehend the miscreants connected to the incident. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Cost Of Amusement Park Equipment From Mexico Might Surprise You Amusement Park Equipment | search ads Click Here Undo "The organisers of the programme will be dealt with as per law," stated the Manipur Police via their official communication channel on 'X'. It may be mentioned here that the Kuki-Zo community observed the second anniversary of the Manipur May 3 conflict — which began on May 3, 2023, in Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and other Kuki-Zo dominated areas as ' Separation Day '. At the same time, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) organised a large public convention titled 'Manipur People's Convention' at the Khuman Lampak Indoor Stadium in Imphal on Saturday. Thousands of people gathered to mark the May 3 incident.
India Today
03-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Manipur marks 2 years since ethnic violence with Valley shutdown, candle tribute
The Imphal Valley observed 'Sintha Leppa', a shutdown of daily activities, on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, institutions and business establishments remained closed while public transportation services were suspended and only a few private vehicles were seen plying the anticipation of potential unrest, security forces were deployed at key locations across the capital to maintain law and The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) hosted the Manipur People's Convention at Khuman Lampak stadium. It appealed to the public to halt daily routines and attend the convention, which aimed at reflecting over the ongoing crisis and paying tribute to those affected by the part of the day's observance, a candlelight tribute is scheduled in the evening at Kangla Nongpok Thong to honour the lives lost during the communal the situation in the valley, normal life was suspended in the Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts, as well. According to officials, all educational institutions and commercial establishments remained closed. These areas are dominated by the Kuki-Zo of vehicles in vulnerable locations adjoining the hill district and in the valley is May 3, 2023, ethnic violence erupted in Manipur between the Meitei people, a majority that lives in the Imphal Valley, and the Kuki-Zo tribal community from the surrounding hills following a High Court's order that recommended a Scheduled Tribe status for the dominant Meitei led to the death of nearly 250 people and 60,000 others were decision was later criticised by the Supreme the other hand, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum, representing the Kuki-Zo people, are observing 'Separation Day'. The community has been demanding a separate administration as the 'only solution' to the ethnic against this, the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) of the Thadou community, which resents being clubbed as a 'Kuki', marks May 3 as 'Peace Day' to 'honour the memory of those who have fallen victims to the tragic violence and extend our deepest empathy to the survivors and their families,' the TIM said in a press call for 'Sintha Leppa' in the Valley has drawn a widespread response from the public, underlining the continued pain and unrest that lingers two years after the violence first erupted in the Watch
