Kuki-zo council: Cookie-Joe Council (KZC) issued an important statement on Thursday, making it clear that there is no question of reopening the National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) as this road was never closed. The council warned that its decision should not be understood as support for independent or unrestricted movement in Meeti and Cookie areas.
KZC said that Imphal-Dimapur NH-2 has been open for transportation of passengers and essential commodities, so the news of reopening it in some media reports is misleading. The council made it clear that its appeal was limited to the part passing through the Kangpokpi district, where the local people were urged to support the central security forces.
This is said about the buffer zone
KZC reiterated that the purity of the buffer zone between the Meeti and the Cookie-which will be strictly followed. The council said that no statement of its should be seen as support in the buffer zone without stopping movement.
Central government responsibility for security
The council also clarified that it is the responsibility of the Government of India and the Central Security Forces to ensure the safety of passengers and freight. There is no obligation to guarantee this security on the people of Kangpokpi or KZC. The Ministry of Home Affairs has assured that adequate central forces will be deployed to provide necessary security on NH-2, so that safety of passengers and vehicles can be ensured.
Agreement towards peace
Meanwhile, two major cookie-who organizations signed the campaign suspension (SOO) agreement on new terms with the government. Under this agreement, the organizations have agreed to maintain the regional integrity of Manipur, transfer the camps specified from sensitive areas and to cooperate to bring permanent peace and stability in the state.