The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has asserted that the outbreak of violence in Manipur on May 3, 2023, was not a spontaneous occurrence but rather a meticulously orchestrated event by Chin Kuki Narco Terrorists. According to COCOMI, this sinister plot was masterminded by the so-called Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU).
In an official press release, the committee went on to make startling claims, alleging that the roots of the violence were deeply intertwined with the long-nurtured aspirations of various Kuki bodies. These bodies, COCOMI asserts, have been methodically working towards the realization of a separate administration, an independent state, or even a sovereign country. This elaborate scheme, as outlined by COCOMI, involved the generation of substantial revenue through illicit activities such as poppy cultivation, extortion on highways, looting, and tax collection.
COCOMI further expounded on the consequences of these activities, contending that the call for the establishment of self-government or a separate administration in the Kuki-Zo dominated areas of Manipur would only exacerbate the already volatile situation. The committee emphasized that such a move could disrupt the peaceful coexistence of the Kuki-Zo people themselves and hinder the ongoing efforts for the settlement of Kuki communities in Manipur.
The press release advanced its narrative, emphasizing a well-accepted reality recognized by both the Central and State governments: illegal immigrants constitute the primary catalyst for the violence in Manipur. This assertion gained additional weight through recent statements by the External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishanker, who, during an address in New York, explicitly declared that the current crisis in Manipur is a direct consequence of a substantial influx of immigrants.
Persisting in its communication, the release fervently advocated for decisive action, urging the Governments of India and the State to address this urgent issue by taking appropriate measures against individuals and organizations championing the cause of a separate administration or self-government. COCOMI argued that these entities, namely the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) and the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), not only pose a direct threat to the stability of the region but also bear a significant share of responsibility for the ongoing turmoil and ethnic violence in Manipur.