End pact with KukiZo groups, Manipur Assembly tells Centre
As the Manipur Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution to urge the Union government to abrogate the suspension of operations (SoO) pact with KukiZo insurgent groups, in effect since 2008, suspense prevailed over the extension of the agreement.
The 10 KukiZoHmar legislators were not present in the Assembly when the resolution was passed.
The pact was signed in 2008 by the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an umbrella of 24 insurgent groups, the Union Home Ministry, and the Manipur government. The annual extension of the pact lapses on Thursday.
A source said that the Manipur government did not send its representative to a meeting called to formalise the extension of the pact for the next year. The Ministry officials did not respond to queries from The Hindu regarding the status of the agreement.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said the resolution was aimed at ensuring peace in the region. “The 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on the second day of its fifth session, unanimously resolved to urge the Central Government to completely abrogate the SoO pact with all the KukiZo militant groups. This decision comes in the interest of ensuring peace and security in the region,” he wrote in a post on ◣ on Thursday.
Former Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh and leader of the Congress party said the SoO pact had been signed between the Assam Rifles and some Kuki militant groups in 2005.
“It was done without the knowledge of the Manipur government. The State forces continued to arrest the militants. Another SoO was signed in 2008 with the participation of the State government,” Mr. Singh said.
The agreement was signed in the wake of the KukiNaga clashes of the 1990s when hundreds were killed.