Manipur: Life Comes to Standstill After COCOMI Extends ‘Cease Work’ Protest

Imphal, November 1, 2019:

Normal life has come to a standstill in Manipur after the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) extended its ‘cease work’ protest by a day.

Several parts of Imphal were affected by the protest. COCOMI, which is a joint body of major civil society organisations of the State. The gropu called for a protest in order to highlight the need to safeguard the Manipur’s interests and territory amid reports of Naga peace talks’ conclusion between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and the Centre.

It may be mentioned here that COCOMI has initiated a slew of protests following the Naga Peace Talks. Government and private offices, educational institutions, markets, shops and business establishments remained closed.

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On Thursday, COCOMI’s General Secretary Khuraijam Athouba informed that the organisation would extend its protest after reports of the Naga peace talks concluded on a positive note.

A mass agitation on Thursday night also erupted in Manipur. Thousands of people took to the streets in response to the Naga Peace Talks’ conclusion between the Isaak Muivah faction of the NSCN and the Centre.

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The agitation came up sensing trouble in the state at a crucial point of Naga Peace Talks’. People have been carrying out protests in the past few weeks fearing threat to integrity in the state.

Although the government has agreed upon the demands of the NSCN-IM, agreeing to the separate flag and constitution, the formal announcements are yet to be made as Centre is keen on taking governments of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on board. The three states have expressed apprehension over the talks and sought to protect their territorial integrity.

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