Cookie groups in Manipur have laid down three pre-conditions before the talks between Cookie-Zo and Maetai groups in Delhi on April 5, which aims to resolve the ongoing crisis in the state. The Union Home Ministry has called for talks between the two groups – Metai and the Cookie -Zo tribals living on the majority of Metai and the surrounding hills in the efforts to end the ethnic violence that began in May 2023. More than 250 people have lost their lives in this struggle and thousands of people have become homeless.
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Cookie Zo Council (CasedC) president Henlianthang Thanglet said that the previous areas include restricting cross-motives between Metei and Cookie in areas where the second community is majority. These conditions were established during a counseling meeting organized by the Tribal Ekta Samiti (COTU) at Kangpokpi on Tuesday.
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There are three conditions:
The movement and vice versa of Meitei individuals in cookie-zo-bottom areas will be strictly banned.
Emotion will be prevented for at least six months to facilitate the conversation.
A structured, formal and meaningful dialogue process should be initiated during the ceasefire period.
