COCOMI rejects PUCL’s “Independent People’s Tribunal” report, calling it a deliberate attempt to vilify Meitei community and legitimize “narco-terrorist agendas”.
TFM Desk
Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) on Tuesday issued a strong rebuttal to the recently released report by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), labelling it as “biased, misleading, and politically engineered.” In a detailed press statement dated 26 August, COCOMI categorically rejected the findings of the so-called Independent People’s Tribunal (IPT), accusing it of promoting a “separatist narrative and shielding Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups”.
COCOMI, which represents the people of Manipur, asserted that the PUCL report is riddled with factual inaccuracies, selective omissions, and deliberate misrepresentations aimed at demonizing the Meitei community while legitimizing the demands of armed groups. The committee has announced plans for a public review of the report and promised legal action against PUCL and its tribunal members.
Key Points of Contention as per COCOMI includes:
1. Misrepresentation of High Court’s ST Status Directive
COCOMI refuted the report’s claim that the Manipur High Court directed the state government to recommend Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for Meitei community. It clarified that the former Chief Justice had repeatedly stated that the court holds no such authority, accusing PUCL of intentional misinformation and disrespect for judicial authority.
2. Fabricated Narrative on Violence Outbreak
The report alleged that mobs first attacked Kuki settlements in Imphal, leading to retaliatory violence in hill districts. COCOMI countered that verified photo and video evidence shows the first attack occurred in Torbung-Kangvai, Churachandpur, where Meitei homes were burned in daylight. Retaliation in Imphal occurred only hours later, after the Kangvai violence had gone viral.
3. One-Sided Portrayal of Victimhood
COCOMI accused the tribunal of deliberately portraying Kuki Community as the sole victims by omitting that Meitei community were the first to be driven out and attacked in Kangvai, which triggered later retaliation.
4. Endorsement of Separatist Agenda
The report’s use of the phrase “de facto ethnic partition” was condemned as a direct endorsement of separatist demands, rather than an objective fact-finding effort.
5. Justification of Poppy Cultivation
COCOMI criticized the report for generalizing poppy cultivation as poverty-driven while ignoring the role of major narco-terrorist players, effectively justifying illegal activity.
6. Omission of Armed Kuki Groups’ Role
The tribunal was accused of ignoring the involvement of Kuki-Chin armed groups in violence, despite admissions by their own spokespersons. COCOMI cited Seilen Haokip’s interview on NE Live where he acknowledged the role of Suspension of Operation (SoO) groups in the violence. The report also failed to name groups like ITLF, COTU, and Kuki Inpi, which are known to direct militant activities.
7. False Conclusion of “Unbridgeable Differences”
COCOMI rejected the report’s claim that ethnic differences are irreconcilable, pointing out that Imphal remains open and many from Chin-Kuki-Mizo communities are returning, except those threatened by separatists.
8. Demonisation of Meitei Community
The report’s suggestion that Meiteis have a “contentious” relationship with the Indian state was called “fabricated”. COCOMI highlighted that Meiteis have contributed significantly to the Indian Army, sports, arts, and sciences, and are being unfairly portrayed as anti-national.
9. Misleading ST Consultation Process
The tribunal’s recommendation that the state government consult stakeholders on ST status was dismissed as constitutionally incorrect, as ST status is granted by Parliament based on recommendations from national bodies, not local consultations.
10. Distortion of Tribal Histories
COCOMI accused the report of misleadingly grouping Nagas with Kuki-Zo narratives of historical migration, which Nagas have never endorsed, thereby distorting tribal histories to legitimize separatist claims.
Future Actions Announced by COCOMI:
– Public Review: COCOMI will organize a detailed public review of the PUCL report to expose its falsehoods to the people of Manipur and the wider Indian public.
– Legal Action: The committee will pursue legal action against PUCL and tribunal members for defamatory statements, legitimization of separatism, and distortion of facts.
– Safeguarding Integrity: COCOMI will mobilize civil society, intellectuals, and legal experts to protect Manipur’s integrity and counter internationally circulated propaganda.
COCOMI concluded that the PUCL-IPT report lacks legitimacy and credibility and is rejected in its entirety by the people of Manipur. It warned that the report undermines peace, justice, and national security while empowering “narco-terrorist groups”.
The statement ended with a firm message: “Manipur does not need propaganda masquerading as human rights. What it needs is truth, fairness, and collective resolve to restore peace, integrity, and unity.”