COCOMI says no to TC, states stand to Muivah

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 23: A team of the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) called on NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah at Hebron and categorically asked the rebel leader not to pursue any separate administrative unit for any particular ethnic community based on ethnicity.
COCOMI spelt out its stand before the report that Territorial Councils may be created in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh as the final outcome of the ongoing peace talks between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India.
The COCOMI representatives were invited to Camp Hebron at the initiative of the Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation for a meeting with Th Muivah who is the  chief negotiator for NSCN-IM with the Government of India.
Speaking to media persons at the UCM office this evening, COCOMI convenor Sunil Karam said that 14 representatives of COCOMI held a meeting with the NSCN-IM leader on the agenda of peaceful co-existence together with four representatives of the Tangkhul Naga Foothills Organisation.
During the meeting, the COCOMI representatives presented a strong case against creating any separate administrative unit based on ethnicity while espousing the idea of peaceful co-existence and collective development.
They also urged the rebel leader to work for unification of all the communities of the North East while he is alive and restore cordial relationship among all the ethnic groups of the region.
Maintaining that no third party (India) should be allowed to decide any issue that exists among the ethnic groups of the region, the COCOMI representatives underscored the growing need for bringing unity and integrity among the peoples of the North East, Sunil Karam conveyed.
Muivah responded that the NSCN-IM too wish to foster cordial relationship among all the communities of the region.
Commenting on media reports that two territorial councils would be set up for Nagas in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, Sunil Karam maintained that there is no alteration to the people’s and COCOMI’s resolve to oppose any attempt to create separate administrative unit based on ethnicity.
If the situation turns out contradictory to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s  assurance that the people of Manipur would be consulted before sealing the Naga solution if it affects Manipur in any manner, Sunil Karam said that any such development would be opposed tooth and nail, and massive protest agitation would be launched.
He also called upon all the people to be prepared for mass protest movements in case the Government of India chooses to force its way and the Naga solution infringes on the interest of Manipur.
Earlier during a meeting with COCOMI representatives, the Central Government expressed its intention to set up a territorial council in the State but the COCOMI representatives categorically stated that the Government of India should not ever commit such a political blunder, Sunil Karam said.
Saying that Chief Minister N Biren was also present during the meeting with the Union Home Minister, the COCOMI convenor expressed keen desire for the State Government to keep a close watch on the developing situation regarding the Naga solution.