IMPHAL, April 29: As Manipur approaches the second anniversary of its ongoing ethnic conflict, civil society organisations have announced separate events on May 3, underscoring the region’s complex divide and differing paths to resolution.

The valley-based Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) is set to organise a public convention on May 3 at 11:30 a.m. at Khuman Lampak, Imphal, to mark two years since the outbreak of violence on May 3, 2023. The convention, according to COCOMI, aims to deliberate on the ongoing crisis and adopt resolutions to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

COCOMI President Khuraijam Athouba, addressing the media on Tuesday, said the event will bring together scholars, intellectuals, community leaders, and representatives from civil society to present a unified roadmap for resolution. The committee has been conducting public mobilisation campaigns across the state over the past month to raise awareness and gather public opinion ahead of the event.

“This is not a time for silence. Major decisions are expected to emerge from the convention. We want inclusive representation from every section of society to find common ground,” Athouba stated. He criticised the imposition of President’s Rule, arguing it failed to address law and order in both the hills and the valley, and instead merely replaced a popular government.

Drawing a sharp comparison between New Delhi’s handling of terrorism in Kashmir and insurgency in the Northeast, Athouba said, “When it comes to Kashmir, terrorists are dealt with firmly. But when it comes to the Northeast, groups infiltrating from Myanmar seem to be met with a far friendlier attitude. Are these ‘good terrorists’? It reminds one of the US’s past stances on the Taliban.”

COCOMI has appealed for mass public participation in the convention and urged citizens to refrain from routine activities on May 3 in solidarity with the cause. The committee reiterated its commitment to peaceful democratic processes, stating the resolutions adopted will reflect the people’s collective will.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has declared May 3 as “Separation Day”, to be observed at the Wall of Remembrance in Tuibuong. The event is intended to mark what the group describes as “two years of total separation” from the Meitei community, highlighting the deepening rift within the state.

In a public notice, ITLF called the day one of mourning and remembrance for those lost during the conflict. The programme will include prayers, speeches by tribal leaders, community reports, and a traditional condolence ceremony called Jangnadopna.

Calling it a “day of collective remembrance and unity”, the forum urged widespread participation from the tribal community. “Let us honour the past, strengthen our resolve, and move forward in unity,” read the statement.

With both COCOMI and ITLF mobilising on the same day, albeit for divergent purposes, May 3 is expected to become a pivotal moment—either as a step toward peace or a stark reflection of Manipur’s deepening social fractures.