COCOMI asks Prez exact date of resettlement
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 11 : On behalf of all the displaced people, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has asked President Droupadi Murmu to give an exact date and month for resettlement of the displaced people of Manipur.
Speaking to media persons at Lamboi Khongnang- khong relief camp this afternoon, COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba said that the President as the Constitutional head of the country must be knowing that the people of Manipur are being denied the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
He asked whether President Droupadi Murmu will grant the fundamental rights to the people of Manipur during her maiden visit to the State.
COCOMI and other CSOs have talked several times with the Government including officials of the Ministry of Affairs on the resettlement of IDPs who have been living like refugees in their own homeland for over two years and a half.
At one such meeting held on June 30, 2025, the Government assured that the IDPs will be resettled in three phases and the third phase will be completed by December 2025, Athouba said.
This was followed by another meeting at the Raj Bhavan (now Lok Bhavan) where the Chief Secretary, Commissioner (Home) and other top Government officials were present. The Government officials reassured that the IDPs will certainly be resettled by December.
As there was no indication of resettlement even by the beginning of the month of December, a restive situation engulfed the State.
The IDPs and the people rose up in strong protest when the PR administration misplaced its priorities and organised Manipur Sangai Festival.
By boycotting the festival enmasse, the people sent a very clear and loud message.
The common and urgent desires of the people are resettlement of IDPs and restoration of the freedom of movement.
Demanding fulfilment of these demands, the IDPs, CSOs and the people have been counting the days since December 1, the COCOMI convenor said.
Apart from staging a sit-in-protest, the IDPs have been submitting memorandums/reminders to the Governor and the Chief Secretary every day.
Pointing out that only 21 days are left for the Government to keep its commitment, the IDPs submitted another memorandum/reminder to the Governor and the Chief Secretary today too.
On behalf of the IDPs, the COCOMI convenor asked whether President Droupadi Murmu will grant the fundamental rights which have been denied to the people of Manipur for quite a long time or leave the weary people to their own predicament.
He went on to ask whether the President will restore the right to freedom of movement to the people of Manipur.
He also asked, “Should we see President Droupadi Murmu as our own President if she goes back without restoring these rights?”
There are only 20 days left for the Government to fulfil its commitment but it appears that the Government is indifferent to the suffering of IDPs, Athouba said.
In order to make the Government know the suffering of IDPs, COCOMI and its women wing members and representatives of IDPs will hold nights at Sajiwa relief camp from today.
If necessary, Government officers/administrators may be dragged to the relief camp and forced to put up nights along with IDPs and COCOMI members to let them feel the suffering of IDPs, he said.
He also appealed to the Government to take up resettlement measures immediately before such an unpleasant step is put into action.
IMPHAL, Dec 11 : On behalf of all the displaced people, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has asked President Droupadi Murmu to give an exact date and month for resettlement of the displaced people of Manipur.
Speaking to media persons at Lamboi Khongnang- khong relief camp this afternoon, COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba said that the President as the Constitutional head of the country must be knowing that the people of Manipur are being denied the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
He asked whether President Droupadi Murmu will grant the fundamental rights to the people of Manipur during her maiden visit to the State.
COCOMI and other CSOs have talked several times with the Government including officials of the Ministry of Affairs on the resettlement of IDPs who have been living like refugees in their own homeland for over two years and a half.
At one such meeting held on June 30, 2025, the Government assured that the IDPs will be resettled in three phases and the third phase will be completed by December 2025, Athouba said.
This was followed by another meeting at the Raj Bhavan (now Lok Bhavan) where the Chief Secretary, Commissioner (Home) and other top Government officials were present. The Government officials reassured that the IDPs will certainly be resettled by December.
As there was no indication of resettlement even by the beginning of the month of December, a restive situation engulfed the State.
The IDPs and the people rose up in strong protest when the PR administration misplaced its priorities and organised Manipur Sangai Festival.
By boycotting the festival enmasse, the people sent a very clear and loud message.
The common and urgent desires of the people are resettlement of IDPs and restoration of the freedom of movement.
Demanding fulfilment of these demands, the IDPs, CSOs and the people have been counting the days since December 1, the COCOMI convenor said.
Apart from staging a sit-in-protest, the IDPs have been submitting memorandums/reminders to the Governor and the Chief Secretary every day.
Pointing out that only 21 days are left for the Government to keep its commitment, the IDPs submitted another memorandum/reminder to the Governor and the Chief Secretary today too.
On behalf of the IDPs, the COCOMI convenor asked whether President Droupadi Murmu will grant the fundamental rights which have been denied to the people of Manipur for quite a long time or leave the weary people to their own predicament.
He went on to ask whether the President will restore the right to freedom of movement to the people of Manipur.
He also asked, “Should we see President Droupadi Murmu as our own President if she goes back without restoring these rights?”
There are only 20 days left for the Government to fulfil its commitment but it appears that the Government is indifferent to the suffering of IDPs, Athouba said.
In order to make the Government know the suffering of IDPs, COCOMI and its women wing members and representatives of IDPs will hold nights at Sajiwa relief camp from today.
If necessary, Government officers/administrators may be dragged to the relief camp and forced to put up nights along with IDPs and COCOMI members to let them feel the suffering of IDPs, he said.
He also appealed to the Government to take up resettlement measures immediately before such an unpleasant step is put into action.