Manipur Civil Society Groups Meet Centre to Discuss Peace, End to President’s Rule

Manipur Civil Society Groups Meet Centre to Discuss Peace, End to President’s Rule

Last Updated Jul - 01 - 2025, 10:29 AM | Source : Fela News

Three Manipur civil society groups met Union Home Ministry officials to push for peace, free movement, and the restoration of elected government. Talks included

On Monday, June 30, 2025, three civil society organisations from Manipur met with officials from the Union Home Ministry to discuss a roadmap for peace and the possible restoration of an elected government in the State, according to a senior government official. Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13. While the matter of lifting President’s Rule was brought up during the discussions, no concrete assurance was given to the visiting delegation.

The three organisations — the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), and the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) — included members from both Meitei and non-Meitei communities. This marked the first time the groups held a joint meeting with A.K. Mishra, Adviser for Northeast Affairs at the Home Ministry, and officials from the Intelligence Bureau.

During the meeting, the organisations highlighted several key concerns, including ensuring free movement on the State’s highways, providing adequate security for farmers, taking action against illegal immigration, and resettling those displaced by violence. After the discussion, the groups, under the unified banner of the Collective of Civil Society Organisations, issued a joint statement stressing that unrestricted movement for all citizens must be recognised as a fundamental right and a crucial step toward achieving lasting peace in Manipur.

They also raised a recent controversy from May 20, when security personnel allegedly attempted to erase the word "Manipur" from a State-run transport bus carrying journalists to the Ukhrul district for the Shirui Lily festival. The delegation questioned what action had been taken against the officials involved. In response, Home Ministry representatives assured them that the matter would be addressed with the State government.

Earlier in June, the Ministry had resumed discussions with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups that are part of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre. The talks focused on reopening major highways to facilitate vehicle movement between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas. This includes National Highway-2 and NH-37, both vital for connecting the landlocked Imphal Valley to neighbouring Nagaland and Assam. These highways pass through Kuki-Zo-dominated regions and are essential for transporting essential goods into the State.

Manipur has been reeling from ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, which began in May 2023. The violence has so far resulted in at least 250 deaths and the displacement of more than 60,000 people from their homes.

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