The Centre's initiative to facilitate unrestricted movement on all roads in the conflict-affected region of Manipur, effective from March 8, has faced its initial challenge. A prominent Kuki-Zo organization has declared its intention to prohibit such movement until their demands for a political resolution to the ongoing unrest are addressed. The Committee on Tribal Unity (Cotu), based in Kangpokpi, made this announcement during the commemoration of the 22nd Remembrance Day at the Martyrs Cemetery in Phaijang on Monday. This event has been held in the district on the third day of each month since the onset of the conflict between the Meiteis and the Kuki-Zos on May 3, 2023.
Cotu’s resolution on “restricted access” stated that “no free movement shall be permitted in Kuki-Zo areas until a resolution that respects the community’s aspirations
is reached”.
The organisation also resolved to carry forward its “unwavering struggle for a separate administration” by carving out a Union Territory for the Kuki-Zo people, a demand the Meiteis have been strongly opposing. “The Kuki-Zo people will persist until a separate administration is achieved, with no compromise or surrender,” Cotu said.
The resolution evoked a strong reaction from the Imphal-based Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), a Meitei organisation. Cocomi urged the Centre to take “immediate and decisive legal action” against Cotu and its leadership “for openly challenging the sovereignty of the nation”.
Cocomi criticized the "provocative and inflammatory statement" made by Cotu, asserting that the Kuki-Zo group is "openly challenging the authority" of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Government of India. This, Cocomi argued, constitutes a "direct threat to national unity, law and order, and the sovereignty of the Indian state."
Furthermore, Cocomi contended that the resolution against free movement "in Kuki-Zo land represents an unlawful act that directly violates the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution. No organization or community possesses the legal authority to impose restrictions on the movement of citizens within Indian territory".
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)