COCOMI sticks to boycott call

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 23: The Co-ordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has reiterated its decision to boycott the Manipur Sangai Festival 2019.
Speaking to media persons at the Lamphelpat office of UCM this afternoon, COCOMI assistant coordinator  Khuraijam Athouba appealed to all the people to stay away from this year’s edition of Mani-pur Sangai Festival.
Let the State Government celebrate the Sangai festival but it will never be a success if the people stay away from it, Athouba said.
Given the critical situation of Manipur, it’s not time for the people to celebrate festivals or indulge in merry making.
It is essential to send a clear message to the Government of India that the people of Manipur stand firmly and collectively for the integrity and territorial boundary of the State by way of staying away from the festival en masse, he said.
There are intelligence agencies who would certainly send reports to the Central Government about the mass movement being spearheaded by COCOMI and people’s response to the Manipur Sangai Festival 2019, he said.
As sons and daughters of the soil, everyone ought to stay away from the festival, he asserted. 
It would be rather absurd to stage protest demonstrations if the people must go to the Sangai festival soon after the protest demonstrations are over or midway, Athouba said.
He said that all the people can celebrate together only when the State is secure. However, there is no question of COCOMI causing disturbances to the Manipur Sangai Festival 2019 which kicks off tomorrow. COCOMI has nothing to do with any untoward incident that may happen during the festival, he added. It is rather heartening that the people living around Konung Lampak have decided not to extend any cooperation to the Manipur Sangai Festival 2019, he lauded.
He then appealed to the people of Nongmeibung, Checkon and Uripok-Kangchup road to support COCOMI’s decision regarding the Sangai festival.
Notably, COCOMI has been spearheading civil protest movements against any possible negative impact of the Naga solution upon Manipur.