IT News
Imphal, May 3:
Thousands of people gathered at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal on Saturday to attend the Manipur People’s Convention, marking two years since the outbreak of ethnic violence in the state. The convention was organized by the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), with a strong turnout reflecting widespread public frustration and a call for justice, peace, and resolution.
The gathering paid floral tribute to the victims of the violence that erupted in May 2023, with speakers urging collective unity, constitutional safeguards, and decisive government intervention to end the prolonged crisis. More than 60,000 people have been displaced and hundreds of lives lost in the two-year-long conflict, which has stemmed from deep-rooted tensions between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba, speaking on the sidelines of the event, criticized what he described as the Centre’s “selective response” to incidents of violence across the country. “The different responses to the Pahalgam terror attack and the Manipur crisis have created a deep sense of neglect and frustration among the people here. The Centre’s approach has not addressed our grievances sincerely,” he said.
He added that the resolutions adopted during the convention would be submitted to the Government of India, urging immediate and concrete action. “The Centre must guarantee the fundamental and constitutional rights of the valley people. We are left with no option but to organize and press our demands, and if the Centre fails to act, people will come out onto the streets.”
Khuraijam Athouba also said the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur has failed to restore law and order. “There is a growing consensus that President’s Rule has not been effective. The situation on the ground continues to worsen.”
People’s Convention adopts 17-point resolution to address crisis
Manipur People’s Convention, organised by COCOMI concluded with the adoption of a comprehensive 17-point resolution aimed at restoring peace, ensuring justice, and protecting the rights of citizens and displaced persons in the state. The resolutions are as follows:
1. The Government of India must take full responsibility for the prevailing crisis and formulate a concrete roadmap to restore peace and normalcy in the state.
2. The misleading narrative propagated by the Government — portraying the situation as a mere ethnic clash while ignoring the roles of external forces, terrorism, and extremism — must be rectified.
3. All forms of proxy warfare must be stopped immediately. The Government must cease support for proxy forces, including foreign-origin armed groups like KNO, KNA, UPF, and UKLF, currently operating under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.
4. The fundamental rights of Manipur’s citizens, as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, must be upheld and protected without compromise.
5. Free and safe passage along national highways must be ensured. Announcements made by the Union Home Minister on this matter must be implemented effectively.
6. Strict legal action must be taken against individuals and groups found violating laws or engaging in anti-peace activities.
7. Forest areas must be preserved, and illegal poppy and opium cultivation must be entirely eradicated.
8. All forged and fraudulent documents must be identified and revoked.
9. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) must be implemented in Manipur to address issues of undocumented immigration.
11. IDPs must be resettled in their original homes through the construction of new housing, appropriate compensation, and strong measures against those obstructing resettlement.
12. Authorities must take prompt decisions to provide rightful and adequate compensation to affected families.
13. The Government must ensure continuous and unhindered access to education for displaced students.
14. Concrete efforts must be made to trace missing persons. Their families must be given official information and compensated appropriately.
15. All necessary steps must be taken to enable displaced farmers to resume agricultural activities in the upcoming season. Compensation must also be provided for losses suffered over the last two years.
16. Relief funds that have yet to be disbursed to affected farmers must be released without further delay.
17. Sacred religious sites, including Ibudhou Koubru, Thangjing, Kongba Maru, and other hill-based heritage locations, must be protected with robust security similar to those at Amarnath and Kedarnath. The Manipur Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1976, must be fully enforced.
Addressing the convention, Lourembam Nganbi, President of the All Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (AMKIL) and a leading Meira Paibi figure, said the violence has been prolonged due to continued militant attacks against Meitei villages along the peripheral areas of the valley. She also reiterated the demand for implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to identify and address the issue of illegal immigration from Myanmar.
Meanwhile, Ashang Kasar, President of the Indigenous People’s Forum Manipur (IPFM), stressed the need for unity among all indigenous groups and the protection of Manipur’s territorial integrity. He called for collective efforts to preserve the state’s identity and resist any attempts to fragment its geographical or political boundaries.
Despite the scorching summer heat, attendees remained resolute in their participation. The public gathering served not only as a memorial but also as a platform to voice deep-seated concerns over what many perceive as the Centre’s indifference toward the ongoing crisis in Manipur.
The resolutions adopted at the convention are expected to be shared with national leaders in the coming days, as organizers and community leaders push for an inclusive, just, and lasting resolution to the conflict.
