SoO pact under scanner
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 19, 2023 -

THE Union government is yet to give its ap-proval to the state government's decision to pull out from the tripartite suspension of operation (So0) agreement signed with Kuki armed outfits in August, 2008 but it seems the centre can no longer ignore the memorandum submitted by 34 MLAs belonging to the ruling BJP and its alliance partners in the N Biren-led government to end the pact.

The Biren gov-ernment had announced withdrawal from the So0 pact on the ground that an earlier protest demonstration in the hill districts, marked by incidents of violence in Kuki populated areas, was backed by Kuki militants.

The So0 agree-ment signed by the Centre and the Manipur government with two umbrella organisations of Kuki militant outfits was glorified by both the centre and the state as a huge success in their endeavour to bring peace and development in the region.

However, frequent incidents of cadres of So0 signatory outfits violating the ceasefire ground rules, harassing the public and levying tax on commercial vehicles ply-ing through Kuki-dominated areas not only diluted the very purpose of the peace deal but also infuriated chief minister N Biren who had exclaimed during the Anti-terrorism Day observance function held in 2o18 that the So0 with various militant groups in the state is a failure.

He went on to comment that failure of the So0 was due to the ignorance of those in authority and that security forces were not serious in their undertakings, particularly as far as dialogues, rehabilitation process and more importantly abidance to ceasefire ground rules were concerned.

Apart from pointing out to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that the surrender policy designed for militants was "a total failure", he also revealed about discussing the matter with the then Union home minister Rajnath Singh.

As such, it is not surprising that Biren recently announced withdrawal of the state government from the pact for he had been expressing disap-pointment that there is no proper supervision over the outfits which have joined the national mainstream subsequently rendering the sur-render policy meaningless.

Regardless of his outright objection against the So0 agreement reached with two conglomerates of Kuki militant outfits- Kuki National Organisations (KNO) and United Peoples' Front (UPF), the pact continued to be extended periodically in-spite of sporadic incidents related to cadres who are part of So0 roaming around at will with arms, not staying in their designated camps and tell-tale signs of improper monitoring.

In what could be val-idation of CM Biren stand vis-a-vis violation of So0 ground rules, civil society organisations, villagers in the foothills and various political organisations have been alleging involvement of Kuki outfits in the recent communal clashes be-tween Kuki and Meetei communities.

As fallout of the public outcries, non-Kuki MLAs are now demanding deployment of adequate security in Moreh, Churachandpur and other areas in order to ensure adequate security to people of all communities, immediate withdrawal of Sot) agreement by the Central government and deployment of central security forces in sensitive areas of the state, which are likely to compel the Home Ministry to ponder over seriously before extending the truce.