Public demand to cancel SoO pact grows louder
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 23 2023:
The demand for immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) with Kuki militant groups is ever growing with more and more people coming out in support of the demand.
Sit-in demonstrations demanding withdrawal of the SoO pact and protection of State's integrity were staged today at Khurai Puthiba Leikai, Uripok Achom Leikai, Langjing Achouba, Awang Khunou Maning Leikai, Sanjenbam, Moirang Bazar, Moirang Lamkhai, Thoubal Wangkhem, Khabam and Sagolband Loukham Leirak under the aegis of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) .
At the sit-in held at Khurai Puthiba Leikai, jointly organised by Social Reformers Club and Meira Paibi, Mongjam Hemanta, executive committee member of Social Reformers Club, shared that thousands of people have been displaced and many precious lives have been lost since the outbreak of ethnic clash in Manipur on May 3 .
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He alleged that despite calls for peace & normcaly from various corners, armed militants have been attacking civilians and burning houses in villages on the outskirts of the valley.
"Yesterday, violence broke out in Checkon, Imphal East District, after a few armed Kuki youths threatened shopkeepers and women venders in the area", he added.
Hemanta appealed to the Central & State Governments to control the Kuki militant groups and take appropriate actions against those targeting civilians to prevent further violence in Manipur and restore peace.
At the sit-ins, the protesters displayed placards with the slogans such as, "Safeguard Manipur's Integrity", "Wake up Manipur Government", "Cancel SoO with Kuki militant groups", "GoI should control Kuki SoO militants", "No separate administration", etc.
A similar protest was also staged by Meira Paibis of Ahallup Bamdiar Awang Leikai and Bamdiar Tamphakei Kabui Khul.
Meanwhile, Peoples' Action For National Democratic Movement (PANDM) has expressed its anguish over the failure of the Central Forces deployed in the State to thwart and control the attacks mounted on civilians by Kuki militants under SoO.
In a release, PANDM claimed that Kuki militants under SoO are still continuing to attack civilians and burning houses in villages on the outskirts of the valley while the Central Forces deployed in the State have done nothing to deter the Kuki militants from such acts of violence.
PANDM urged the Central & State Governments to cancel the SoO pact with Kuki militants groups as they have broken the ground rules of the pact and targeted civilians.
PANDM also decried the silence of the State Government and the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly over the demand for a separate administration raised by the 10 Kuki-Chin MLAs.
Demanding disqualification of the 10 Kuki-Chin MLAs, PANDM alleged that such a demand threatens the unity and integrity of the State.
PANDM further urged the Central & State Governments to consider the grievances of the public and take immediate action to prevent civil war and restore law & order in Manipur.