Imphal, August 7: The 16-member Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) team has been camping in Imphal since Wednesday. They have been meeting Meitei civil organisations to bring peace in Manipur. However, they alleged that their movement has been restricted following the instruction from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). They said their schedules to meet different leaders and organisations in Imphal have been adversely affected by the restriction. It is not clear for how long the Thadou leaders will be camping in Imphal.
It can be mentioned that the peace initiative, aimed at fostering reconciliation between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, saw the participation of key stakeholders including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), and other civil society organisations.
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Speaking to the media at Classic Hotel, Imphal on Thursday, TIM president James Thadou said, “The confinement of peaceful delegates is a clear violation of their democratic rights and liberty”.
Recalling the challenges faced in attending the meeting, James said, “We came here to Imphal after the May 3, 2023 incident, ignoring pressures from several groups, just to initiate a peace process. It felt good to see Imphal again after two years.” Security was visibly tightened at Classic Hotel where the Thadou leaders are staying, with state police personnel and central forces stationed around the premises.
(Newmai News Network)