Tripartite talks: UPF concurs, KNO fumes
Source: Hueiyen News Service /NNN / Agencies

Imphal, December 05 2012: In the tripartite talks involving the Centre, Government of Manipur and Kuki militant groups under the two umbrella bodies of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) held at New Delhi today, United People's Front (UPF) could come to terms with the condition given by the Government but Kuki National Organisation (KNO) could not.

Talks with KNO ended on a sour note with the umbrella body of 17 odd Kuki UG groups sticking to its stand for giving a written assurance from the Centre for commencement of political dialogue on Kuki issue.

The talks with the two umbrella bodies of the Kuki militant groups were held at Asoka Hotel, New Delhi separately. First, it was with KNO and the talks started at around 3 pm.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in charge of North East, Sambhu Singh led the Central government team while the Manipur Government team was led by Chief Secretary DS Poonia in the meeting with both the KNO and the UPF leaders.

When contacted, Spokesperson of KNO, Dr Seilen Haokip said that today's meeting was inconclusive as no agreement could be reached regarding their demand for initiation of political dialogue which was yet to be commenced even after seven years of signing Suspension of Operation.

"We will wait till tomorrow (Thursday) for the positive response from the government side.

Otherwise, things may not be that fine," informed Seilen Haokip after the talks.

During the talk which lasted only for about 10 minutes, the KNO leader further informed, the Government representatives requested the outfit for the one year extension of Suspension of Operation (SoO) but the outfit turned down on the ground that without any written assurance from the government side to begin a political dialogue, the KNO will not agree to extension of SoO.

"Even if any written assurance comes forth from the government side, that too, we will sign only for three months with regard to the SoO extension," confided Seilen Haokip.

"We have waited for seven long years to begin the political dialogue and for how many more years should we wait.

We will not ask again to hold political dialogue.

Let it be but we can wait for another one more day for the government to respond to our approach," the KNO leader added.

On the other hand, convenor of Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) of UPF Sanga Hmar informed Newmai News Network that they had agreed to the terms given by the Government.

"And so we have agreed for the one year extension of the SoO effective from August 21, 2012 till August 21, 2013," said Sanga Hmar.

Confiding reasons why the UPF agreed to the term, Sanga Hmar said that the government had "promised" the outfit that from December 30, the first ever political dialogue will begin involving the UPF, Central Government and the State government.

"We will wait and see how sincere the government is till December 30," added the UPF leader.

Sanga Hmar then disclosed that the ZRF has officially come to the UPF fold today.

It may be recalled here that Suspension of Operation (SoO) was first signed between Army and constituents of UPF and KNO on August 1, 2005 .

However, Government of India, Government of Manipur and KNO as well as came to an agreement to formalize SoO and cease hostilities with effect from August 22, 2008 .

The agreement signed on August 22, 2008 was extended by one year on August 22, 2009.The agreement was further extended by 45 days with effect from August 22, 2010 .

After review of the progress regarding implementation of the revised "Agreed Ground Rules" 2010, SoO was extended for one year with effect from August 22, 2010 .

Again, following reviewed of the progress regarding implementation of the revised "agreed ground rules" 2010, SoO meeting held on August 26, 2011 at New Delhi agreed to sign the fourth extension of SoO for a period of one year, that is upto August 2012.Subsequently, another round of tripartite talk involving the Centre, State government and two umbrella bodies of Kuki UG groups was held at New Delhi on August 21, 2012 and it was agreed to extend the agreement for a period of only three months which expired today.

The peace pact has been extended only for three months after differences surfaced among the SoO signatories on certain points including KNO's demand to initiate political dialogue regarding their demands, dissatisfaction of the Central and State Government over absence of Kuki cadres in their respective designated camps during monthly inspections, violation of ground rules by indulging in kidnapping, extortion, intimidation, etc as well as over the command for deposition of arms in the armory.

One of the main demands of KNO is creation of a separate state for the Kukis by slicing areas inhabited by Kukis, which Government of Manipur has already rejected stating that it has been clearly mentioned in the terms and conditions of the agreement that no demand which will affect the territorial integrity of Manipur could be included in the agenda of talks.

Following the differences, KNO had even threatened to pull out of SoO if the Centre and the State Government do not consider the demand.

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