COCOMI has announced a joint rally of Meitei and indigenous communities on October 31, demanding the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups and an end to what it calls India’s “proxy war” in Manipur.
BY PC Bureau
October 22: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Thursday announced a joint rally of Meitei and indigenous communities on October 31 as it launched a fresh protest campaign demanding the abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement and an end to what it calls India’s “proxy war” in Manipur.
The announcement was made by COCOMI convenor YK Dhiren during a sit-in protest outside the United Committee Manipur office at Lamphelpat in Imphal. He said the October 31 rally would bring together members of Meitei and indigenous communities to press the government to act on the organisation’s demands.
COCOMI is a Meitei civil society umbrella organisation in Manipur that campaigns on issues concerning the state’s territorial integrity, security and political future.
Addressing the gathering, Dhiren alleged that Kuki militants had shot dead three civilians who had gone to collect firewood in the Sanalok hill area, in an incident linked to the Khongbal killings. Three other people were injured, he claimed.
READ: Leaderless Kuki-Zo Movement Trapped in a Cycle of Empty Slogans, Hollow Threats
Dhiren held both the state and central governments responsible for ensuring the safety of civilians and delivering justice to the victims. He criticised the authorities for failing to prevent recurring violence despite repeated public appeals and called for concrete measures to restore peace across the state.
COCOMI has made the abrogation of the SoO agreement a central demand of its campaign, arguing that the arrangement has failed to address the continuing security crisis. Its description of the conflict as a “proxy war” is the organisation’s characterisation.
The Naga Humanitarian Aid Committee Manipur (NHACM), led by Amana Thaimei, also took part in Thursday’s protest.
Speaking to reporters, Thaimei warned that continued government inaction could prompt indigenous communities to take further action.
“If the government remains a mute spectator, the indigenous people of Manipur, the original inhabitants of this land, will be compelled to take a course of action that the government may find difficult to control,” she said. “We are earnestly waiting for a swift and positive response from the government.”
The October 31 rally is expected to provide a further platform for COCOMI and participating groups to press their demands over the SoO agreement, civilian security and the government’s handling of the prolonged conflict in Manipur.
