Public Convention in Imphal resolves to continue 'movement'

Newmai News Network

Imphal | November 29

A "public convention" organized by Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in Imphal on November 29 resolved to continue the ongoing "people’s movement to protect Manipur’s unity and integrity."

COCOMI, a conglomerate of several valley based civil society organizations held the convention to discuss on future course of action after the recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

 

An 18-member delegation of COCOMI had met with Shah on November 25 and held talks on issues pertaining to apprehensions that settling the Naga political issue may hurt Manipur interests.

 

After the meeting with the Union Home minister, the Committee leaders said that Shah gave them a verbal assurance that there would be no change in the “territorial integrity” and “administrative setup” of Manipur because of the Naga peace talks conclusion. However, The Home minister had turned down a request of COCOMI to give a written assurance.

 

On Friday, the convention deliberated on the assurance given by the Union Home minister. COCOMI leaders who were part of the delegation tabled the details of the talks to the people attending the convention. They further deliberated on Shah’s assurance. The Committee also said that the Centre would call civil society organizations of Manipur again for consultation if anything concerning the interest of Manipur emerges during negotiations with the Nagas.

 

Mention may be made that while spearheading alert campaign Naga peace talks, COCOMI has been demanding protection of Manipur’s territorial integrity while rejecting creation of ethnic based territorial council within the state of Manipur that will sow the seed for disintegration of state’s territorial integrity.

 

Meanwhile, today’s "public convention" adopted a five-point resolution which include among others to continue the ongoing "people’s movement to protect Manipur’s unity and integrity".

 

The first point resolved to oppose the government of India to create any kind of autonomous territorial council in Manipur based on ethnic line as a consequence of the peace talk with NSCN(IM). Such thing "was reflected in the intention of the Union Home minister during the deliberation in New Delhi with COCOMI", the resolution also said.

 

According to COCOMI, the verbal assurance was given by the Union Home minister for consultation in case anything to affect Manipur is to be included in the final agreement of the peace talk with the NSCN(IM). "The assurance is not acceptable as it does not imply the consent of the people of Manipur and resolved that to request the Government of India to take consent of the people through Government of Manipur and civil society organisations involved and to make a statement to this effect in the on-going Parliament session," one of the resolutions said.

 

The convention further resolved to demand Government of Manipur to summon a special session of Manipur Legislative Assembly before December 10, 2019 "acknowledging the agreed points discussed with the Union Home minister".

 

The fifth and the final resolution stated that "the issue of ethnic harmony and administrative setup for the inclusive benefit of the people of Manipur should not be decided by Government of India or a section of Manipuri society but by mutual discussion among the various communities residing in the state.”

 

The convention was moderated by Prof W Nabakumar and besides the leaders of COCOMI, academicians and social activists, representatives of various civil society organizations attended.