March 4, 2025: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has strongly condemned the provocative statement issued by the Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU) yesterday, calling it unconstitutional and a direct challenge to India’s sovereignty.
COCOMI, in a release, criticized COTU’s so-called “unbreakable declaration of the Kuki-Zo community,” which it described as a secessionist manifesto that promotes unrest, defies the Indian Constitution, and threatens national unity.
According to COCOMI, COTU’s demand for a ‘separate administration’ and its refusal to negotiate with the government undermine the constitutional framework.
They also condemned COTU’s statement that it would not allow free movement within Kuki-Zo land, labeling it a direct violation of Indian citizens’ rights. Further, COCOMI expressed concern over COTU’s call for ‘no peace before separation,’ accusing them of perpetuating violence and unrest in Manipur since May 3, 2023, to advance their separatist agenda.
COCOMI noted that these actions have disrupted peace efforts and deepened the ongoing crisis.
The committee also reiterated the Union Home Minister’s directive to restore free movement on all state roads by March 8, calling it a necessary step for restoring normalcy.
However, they urged immediate legal action against COTU’s leadership for their inflammatory rhetoric, stressing that the law must be enforced to uphold national integrity and ensure peace in the region.
