UPF, KNO likely to come up with common points
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 29 2012: UPF and KNO, the two conglomerates of Kuki armed outfits which are under SoO pact with the Government of India and Government of Manipur are likely to come up with some common demands/proposals at the meeting with officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Government scheduled on December 5 at New Delhi.

A reliable source informed that both UPF and KNO have not given any assurance to sign for extension of the SoO pact.

With the seven years old SoO pact not yielding any positive result till date, KNO and UPF have reservations on extending the pact.

Notably, the latest term of the SoO pact had expired on November 22.So far, there has been no formal agreement to extend the pact.

Nevertheless, the parties involved have agreed to abide by the SoO ground rules during the interim period before it is formally extended or terminated.

A designated camp of the SoO group

It is reported that UPF and KNO leaders have been preparing for the meeting scheduled on December 5 .

However, the exact agenda of the scheduled meeting has not been worked out as yet.

Ahead of the tripartite meeting, a separate meeting of UPF and KNO would be held at Delhi.

The meeting would focus on initiating political dialogue rather than merely extending the SoO pact.

The meeting may also deliberate on the demand of Kuki State Demand Committee.

But KNO and UPF have not yet found any common ground or understanding with regard to the demand for carving out a separate Kuki State or its feasibility.

Nonetheless, UPF and KNO would try come to a common understanding on the demand for a separate Kuki State.

Whether it is the demand for separate Kuki State or initiating political dialogue, KNO and UPF would first find a common ground under a mutual understanding, and this would be worked out during the meeting between the two groups.

As such, it is most likely that UPF and KNO would raise some common demands/proposals at the tripartite meeting.

The question of extending or suspending SoO pact in the absence of any agreement for initiating political dialogue would depend on the outcome of the tripartite talk scheduled on December 5, added the source.

Significantly the KNO had recently stated it would abrogate the SoO if no political dialogue is initiated.