New Delhi: Union Home Ministry (MHA) officials on Monday (June 9) held a meeting with representatives of the Kuki-Zo insurgent groups in New Delhi, which are currently under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with the Centre, over the renewal of the SoO agreement.
At the meeting, the insurgent groups, in peace talks with the government since 2008, were conveyed about ground rules violations and were also asked to shut down or relocate camps close to the Meitei-inhabited areas.
The ground rules of the SoO agreement are being reviewed by the MHA, and the next rounds of talks are expected next week to finalise the details for its implementation.
MHA officials insisted on ensuring there is no hindrance from SoO groups on the free movement of people across the state and relocation of the camps from certain civilian areas, while the SoO groups insisted on new ground rules before the Centre renews the cessation of hostilities pact.
The meeting on Monday was significant because it was the first meeting held between government and SoO groups since the pact was put in abeyance last year.
“There were five representatives from the two umbrella organisations KNO and UPF that are under SoO. The MHA side was represented by Northeast interlocutor AK Mishra and IB officials, including state’s IB chief, a joint director rank officer. The ground rules need to be revisited and put on paper because a lot has changed since the SoO pact was signed in 2008. Before SoO is renewed, these rules must be formalised and put on paper. Both parties have to agree for its renewal. The second meeting will be held soon,” a person aware of the meeting said.
The SoO agreement was signed by the Centre and the Manipur government with the insurgent groups in August 2008 and was being renewed every year until February 28, 2024 when the renewal process was kept in abeyance.
The SoO was kept in abeyance by the Centre following allegations of SoO group cadres indulging in Manipur’s ethnic clashes or providing training to the village defence volunteers.
A SoO representative said, “The grounds for discussion should be spelt out clearly. An agreement for a political settlement should be part of the SoO extension. Most ground rules are likely to remain the same as 2008, but regarding relocation of camps, we will have to discuss with our constituents.”
The preliminary meeting discussed a road map for restoring normalcy in the northeastern State and finding a long-term solution.
During the meeting, the opening of national highways for free movement of vehicles from Meitei areas and vice versa was emphasised upon. National Highways-2 and 37, which connect the land-locked Imphal valley to Nagaland and Assam respectively, critical for supply of essentials and other commodities, pass through Kuki-Zo inhabited areas.
The groups were told to surrender their weapons to bring long-lasting peace.
There are around 1,500-2,000 cadres from the SoO in different camps across the state. Their weapons are kept locked in a room within each camp under a double lock system – one key with them and the other with the government.
They live in 14 designated camps in the hill districts of Manipur. The cadres are entitled to a stipend of Rs 6,000 per month, which has not been paid since the violence erupted.
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Under the SoO Pact, the insurgent groups have agreed to stop any form of violence, including attacks on security forces.
Meitei groups have accused SoO of being involved in the ethnic clashes, a charge that the representatives of the SoO groups deny.
