COCOMI Declares Non-Cooperation with President's Rule Administration, Public Boycott of Governor

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has declared non-cooperation with the President's Rule administration, a public boycott of the governor, and the launch of a statewide mass agitation starting May 25.

Following the expiry of the 48-hour deadline set for the Governor of Manipur to tender an apology for the restriction on the use of the name "Manipur" on MST buses en route to Ukhrul for the Shirui Festival on May 20, the Meitei-based organization COCOMI announced various demands and modes of agitation to begin on Sunday.

In a release issued on Saturday, COCOMI declared that the Governor of Manipur will henceforth be boycotted by all public, civil, and cultural platforms. No individual or organization shall invite, attend, or organize any function involving his participation until a public apology is made.

COCOMI announced that mass protests, rallies, torch processions, and sit-ins will be organized across all districts of Manipur, through which the people will express their collective resistance through democratic and non-violent means.

Stating that a civil disobedience campaign will begin against the President's Rule administration, COCOMI urged citizens to cease all cooperation with Central Government offices whose decisions have repeatedly undermined the state's dignity.

However, educational institutions, sports, health, banking, postal services, and essential services are exempted.

COCOMI also demanded the immediate resignation of the Security Advisor, the Director General of Police (DGP), and the Chief Secretary, accusing them of consistently failing the people of Manipur.

The Meitei body further declared that agitations will be intensified at Raj Bhavan (Governor's Residence), Central Government offices, District Headquarters, and PR offices.

COCOMI urged communities, students, women's groups, and CSOs to take active roles in organizing cultural expressions of Manipuri identity and to conduct door-to-door and loudspeaker campaigns to build momentum for their demands.

The key demands placed by COCOMI through the release are: a public apology from the governor, the resignation of the Chief Secretary, Security Advisor, and DGP, rejection of the administrative inquiry, replacement with an independent inquiry committee (with a retired session/high court judge), and an explanation of the Gwaltabi incident to the people of Manipur.

COCOMI claimed that the movement is not a protest against peace but a protest against the surrender of governance to narco-terror threats, the alienation of Manipur's people, and the erasure of the state’s identity under the guise of President's Rule governance.

"Manipur" is not a negotiable term. It is our name, our soul, our heritage. We shall defend it, united, unwavering, and until justice prevails, stated the release.