MHA to resume talks with Kuki-Zo insurgents, says camps near Meitei areas must be closed before renegotiating SoO pact
A senior government official told The Hindu that the suspension of operations pact (SoO) with the insurgent groups in Manipur will be 'renegotiated with stringent ground rules'. The SoO framework has to be in existence before any 'political solution' can be reached.
The Kuki-Zo SoO groups will hold the talks with the MHA's Northeast adviser A.K. Mishra and Intelligence Bureau officials, on June 9.
Changing demands
Before May 2023, when ethnic violence erupted in the State, the primary demand of the SoO groups was to have autonomous territorial councils within Manipur. After the conflict began, however, they changed the stance to demand a separate administration for Kuki-Zo areas, defining it as a Union Territory with a legislature.
The agreement, in place since 2008, has been periodically extended each year, except on February 29, 2024 when the Manipur government pulled out from the tripartite pact. The other two signatories are the MHA and the SoO groups.
One of the conditions that has been set forth to hold further talks is the removal of SoO camps from locations close to the valley districts which are dominated by the Meitei people. Security forces have suggested that the number of camps be reduced from the existing 14 to seven camps.
Timeline of the ongoing Suspension of Operations pact
2008: 25 Kuki-Zo insurgent groups sign a Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with MHA, Manipur government which is extended every year; 14 SoO camps set up in the hill districts of Manipur with around 2200 identified cadres.
May 3, 2023: SoO groups almost sign an agreement with MHA agreeing on autonomous councils for Kuki-Zo people in Manipur. After violence erupts, talks are derailed.
February 29, 2024: Manipur government pulls out of the tripartite SoO agreement when it comes up for an annual extension. MHA and Kuki-Zo groups are present, but Manipur does not send any representative to extend the agreement on its behalf.
February 29, 2024: Manipur Assembly, sans Kuki-Zo MLAs, passes a resolution to abrogate SoO.
August 19-22, 2024: Informal meetings held between three members of the SoO groups, MHA's Northeast adviser A.K. Mishra, and Intelligence Bureau officials
Exchanging accusations
Meitei groups have accused the SoO groups of carrying out armed attacks during and after the ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people which erupted in the State on May 3, 2023 and claimed the lives of 250 people, displacing more than 60,000 people from their homes.
Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh claimed that the SoO groups had violated ground rules and instigated the ethnic violence.
The SoO groups have accused the Manipur government of using the State machinery against them.
'No immediate extension of SoO'
The official quoted above said that there will be no immediate extension of the SoO pact, which protects the identified cadres from arrest and criminal cases if they follow ground rules. It will be extended only after the negotiation is complete, he said.
'Some camps will have to be shut down, few have to be relocated. Separate set of ground rules are being formulated. Without its implementation, the SoO pact cannot be extended,' the official said.
After a peace pact is signed with an insurgent group, the cadres are expected to stay in earmarked camps. Weapons and ammunitions are accounted for and regular checks are conducted by a monitoring agency decided by the State government.
'Preliminary meeting'
An SoO representative said: 'The talks are being held in Delhi after a hiatus. It will be a preliminary meeting with the Centre.'
Around 2,200 cadres of the SoO groups — comprising the United People's Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), umbrella organisations of 25 insurgent groups — live in 14 designated camps in the hill districts of Manipur. The cadres are entitled to a stipend of ₹6,000 per month, which has not been paid since the violence erupted.
The SoO agreement was signed in the aftermath of the Kuki-Naga clashes in the 1990s when hundreds were killed. The insurgent groups demanded an independent land for the Kuki-Zo people.
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