SoO not abrogated, but KNO yet to sign extension pact
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, December 06 2012: The Kuki National Organisation (KNO)'s has stopped short of abrogating the Suspension of Operation pact, but it has not yet decided to append its signature on the extension pact, that was offered by the Government of India and the State Government during a meeting at Delhi yesterday.

At the moment, the situation for the KNO can at best be described as 'the time will speak' .

With no response coming forth from the Government of India after a day's wait, the time-bound given by the KNO yesterday to the Government, the leaders of the Kuki militants are returing to their 'base' tomorrow from New Delhi.

"We are returning to our base tomorrow morning since the Government has not responded till this evening," KNO spokesman Dr Seilen Haokip informed Newmai News Network today evening.

When asked whether they are abrogating the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with the Government, Dr Seilen Haokip said, "The SoO has not been abrogated.

Neither has it been extended" .

Dr Seilen Haokip

On being asked about the present situation, Dr Haokip gave a witty repartee, "We are on waiting mode.

We don't know.

At the moment we will first return to our base and see how things unfold.

Anyway, we are on waiting mode" .

Yesterday, the KNO had placed a clear stand before officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at Asoka Hotel, Delhi in a meeting insisting that the Government should first give a written assurance to the former to begin a political dialogue with the Kuki militant umbrella body.

The KNO had also told them that it would wait for a day (which expired today) .

It is worth mentioning that on November 2, the KNO had asserted that it is for a separate Kuki State under the Constitution of India.

The KNO had also said it would consider abrogating the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact if the Government does not initiate a political dialogue with it by November 22 .

On November 2 Dr Seilen Haikip had stated that in response to the call of the Prime Minister to abjure the path of violence and come forward for talks, the KNO had signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government of India (GoI) in 2005 .

"However, this was objected by the Manipur State Government.

So, in 2008, KNO signed a tripartite SoO with the Government of India and the State Government of Manipur.

Even after seven years of the SoO coming into force, during which peace prevailed in the Kuki hills of Manipur, the Government is yet to initiate any political dialogue", the KNO spokesperson had said.

Accusing the Government of dictating terms, Dr Haokip had said that in August this year that the former had unilaterally decided on a three-month extension of SoO, rather than the usual yearly basis.

"It appears the Government does not appreciate the peace dividend of the SoO", the KNO leader had said while talking to a strong posse of journalists in New Delhi last month.