More than decade of SoO pact : No sign of political dialogue
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 08 2015 :
Even after more than half a decade of inking the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact, it is still not clear when a political dialogue between the Government and the Kuki armed groups under United People's Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) will start.
According to a source, the Govt of India, Govt of Manipur and Kuki armed groups under UPF and KNO signed the SoO agreement in August 2008.The tripartite pact was signed among the parties to pave the way for a political dialogue.
After formulating the ground rules of the agreement, several rounds of meeting were held among the representatives of the signatory parties at Delhi and Imphal after forming a monitoring group.
However, the agendum of the meetings were restricted to matters relating to issuance of identity cards to cadres, payment of monthly stipends, and construction of designated camps.
Significantly, no process has been initiated yet to start a political dialogue with the UG groups.
And the issue is still pending, the source said.
The UPF and KNO have been pressing the Government to start a political dialogue with them.
The two umbrella organisations of Kuki armed groups have also been strongly demanding that the political dialogue, if it is to happen, be held at Delhi, the source added.
The two groups have also said that their demands are within the purview of the State Govt.And as such, there is no need for making the Central Govt a party to the talk and the intervention of the Central is not necessary unless situation demands so, the source said.
This being the reason, the issue of holding a political dialogue with the Kuki armed groups remains pending, it added.