Protest hits state for second consecutive day
Newmai News Network
Imphal | November 1
The Co-ordination Committee of Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Friday demanded the state government to make known the details of the agreement which the Centre was said to have entered with the NSCN (IM) on or before November 4.
COCOMI is a recently formed conglomeration of AMUCO, CCSK, HERICOUN, LIPUL and UCM.
Addressing a press conference held at AMUCO office in Imphal’s Kwakeithel, co-ordinator of COCOMI, Sunil Karam said that the Committee welcomed if an agreement was brought about between the Centre and NSCN (IM). "However, as the agreed points were not made known to the public, there are apprehensions of inclusion of clause(s) related with Manipur in the agreement," Sunil said.
He then added, "As it was said that they had reached an agreement in the talks, there is no point for keeping the agreement secret. The government of India must disclose the details of the agreement", he added.
Sunil Karam then pointed to Manipur government saying it would be the responsibility of the state government to press the Centre to disclose the points of agreement.
The COCOMI co-ordinator then said that the kind of security measures being taken in Manipur have even triggered more apprehensions that something which is against the interest of Manipur could be in the points of agreement between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India. "If no point hurting Manipur’s interest is included in the agreement, there is no need for stepping up security measures in the state", Sunil Karam added.
Assistant co-ordinator of COCOMI, Nando Luwang while speaking on the occasion said that if the state government is unable to obtain the details of the agreement, people will treat the incumbent government as an "unworthy" government. He added that as the talks had already been concluded, the time to disclose the points of agreement has come.
During the press conference, COCOMI leaders announced that they will continue the "alert campaign" and protest to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur until the government of India assured safeguarding the integrity of the state.
Meanwhile, today's protest severely hit normal activities in Imphal for the second consecutive day.
