Imphal: A 19-member delegation comprising representatives of Manipur Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (Cocomi), All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (Amuco), and Federation of Civil Society Organisations (Focs) will attend third round of talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to settle Manipur crisis, on Monday.
The meeting aims to find an amicable solution to the ongoing ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities that began on May 3, 2023.
Speaking at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal on Saturday, Cocomi convenor Khuraijam Athouba said, “Our main focus is to restore peace in Manipur.
The delegation will present a joint statement highlighting key issues including the safe return of displaced persons to their homes, ensuring security for farmers especially in the peripheral areas (adjoining areas between Kuki and Meitei dominated area) and free movement along all national highways in the state,” Athouba said.
The third round of dialogue could lead to a meaningful breakthrough, he hoped.
The delegation includes seven members each from Cocomi and Amuco, and five members from Focs.
The first round of talks was held on April 5 in Delhi, where civil society organisations from the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities met MHA officials separately. Amuco and Focs represented the Meitei community, while the Kuki-Zo side included members from the Kuki-Zo Council, Kuki Inpi Manipur, Zomi Council, United Zou Organisation, and Hmar Inpi.
The second meeting was held on May 27 with only Cocomi and Focs attending from the Meitei side. That meeting ended without any concrete outcome.
Amuco representative S. Bubhol said, “We will also stress that Manipur’s territorial boundary must not be altered,” he said.
