IMPHAL, March 6: The first leg of the ‘Peace Tour,’ previously announced by the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS), is scheduled to begin on March 8 from the Northern Gate of Kangla in the state capital of Imphal. The tour is set to reach Senapati and is envisioned to continue all the way to Mao.

FOCS President Th. Manihar addressed the media on Thursday, outlining the purpose and goals of the peace tour. He reiterated the organization’s support for the decisions made by the Government of India, stating, “We respect and honour the decision taken up by the Government of India, we welcome and trust it, we expect that it would be translated into action.” He also called on other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Ima Groups to support and participate in the peace tour.

In a recent high-level meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued directives to ensure the free movement of people without obstruction along all roads and highways. He also called for stringent action against any attempts to disrupt such movement.

FOCS President Manihar emphasized the importance of the peace tour’s mission, saying, “The mission of the Peace Tour is to carry messages of peace, and not to provoke any person or community. But the approach is to safeguard Manipur’s unity and the idea of one united Manipur, which has its own historical legacy for over 3,000 years, and to restore peace in Manipur.”

The organisation further appealed to Kuki CSOs, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF), and the Confederation of Tribal Organisations (COTU) to support the movement. FOCS urged these groups to communicate with their respective subordinates to ensure that the peace tour faces no obstruction along its route.

In response to threats made by Kuki groups, including the Kuki Army for National Awakening Movement (KANAM) and the Village Volunteers Eastern Zone, FOCS has urged these groups to reconsider their objections and allow the tour to proceed without interference. FOCS emphasized that their aim is to foster peace and unity in Manipur, rather than incite division.

Additionally, FOCS reminded the public that the peace tour will not be taking place in Kuki Land but across the land of Manipur as a whole. The organisation strongly underscored that there is no such thing as Kuki-land, Meitei-land, Naga-land, Pangal (Muslim)-land, or Nepali-land in Manipur, urging the people to reflect on the shared heritage of the state.