The United Naga Council has endorsed COCOMI’s October 31 rally in Imphal and announced simultaneous peaceful sit-in protests at Naga district headquarters over security concerns.
Imphal, Oct. 27: The United Naga Council (UNC) has endorsed the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI)’s proposed mega rally in Imphal on October 31, calling for public participation in the demonstration and announcing simultaneous peaceful sit-in protests at all Naga district headquarters.
In an endorsement and public appeal issued on October 27 and signed by UNC president NG Lorho, the council said the protests would be held from 11 am on October 31 in solidarity with the rally in Imphal.
The COCOMI rally is set to press for three demands: abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with Kuki militant groups, an end to what the UNC described as a proxy war in Manipur, and the removal of Assam Rifles from the state, particularly from border areas, with the force replaced by another central force such as the Border Security Force (BSF).
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The UNC said it was concerned about the state’s security situation and alleged that armed groups operating under the SoO arrangement had contributed to continuing violence and threats to indigenous communities. These assertions were made in the council’s statement.
The council also questioned the role of Assam Rifles in border and conflict-affected areas. It alleged that the force had acted in a partisan manner and had failed to respond adequately to aggression against indigenous villages.
The UNC further claimed that Assam Rifles had become an obstacle to effective action by other security forces. It called for the force to be replaced in the state, particularly along the border, by what it described as a neutral central force.
These allegations reflect the UNC’s position as stated in its appeal.
The UNC has called on the Naga People’s Union, Imphal, other Naga frontal organisations and churches to mobilise people for the COCOMI rally in Imphal.
At the same time, the council has assigned district apex bodies, tribal Hohos and district-level frontal organisations responsibility for organising the solidarity sit-ins or rallies at their respective district headquarters.
The appeal also urged Naga tribal Hohos, frontal organisations, village authorities, churches, women, youth and students to participate in the demonstrations.
The UNC said the participation would express collective opposition to what it described as terror and demonstrate a commitment to protecting ancestral land and identity.
The planned protests will take place alongside the COCOMI rally in Imphal on October 31.
