No final word said on status of SoO pact post February 29
No date fixed yet on extending pact
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 06 2024: Even as the term of the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact signed between two dozens of Kuki militant groups and the Government expired on February 29, no tentative dates have been fixed as of yet by the competent authority to review and extend the ceasefire.

Signed between the Army and constituents of United People's Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) in 2005, the SoO agreement was formalised on August 22, 2008 with the involvement of the Central and the State Governments.

Though not official, reliable sources said that the competent authority hasn't fixed any date to hold a meeting pertaining to SoO agreement, the term of which had expired on February 29 but preparation is underway to resume the talks which were initiated to restore normalcy in the State.

No final word said on status of SoO pact post February 29

The SoO agreement has been extended periodically since it was formalised in 2008 after a review by the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) .

Technically the SoO agreement is now invalid as not a single word has come out from the side of the Government on extending the ceasefire.

Sources from among the Kuki militant groups who are signatories to SoO said that they are also confused over the development as there is no intimation from the Ministry concerned on extending the ceasefire.

Notably, the Manipur Legislative Assembly had on February 29 adopted a 'unanimous' resolution to ask the Government of India to abrogate the SoO agreement.

Sources said that the Home Ministry has started reviewing the proposal sent by the State Assembly to scrap SoO agreement and reports received from other agencies and will soon take a decision on the matter.

Apart from the State Assembly resolution, many organisations have also been urging the Centre to discontinue the SoO agreement on the charge that Kuki militants have violated the ground rules of the pact on different occasions.

It is to be noted that the Kuki militant groups agreed to not undertake any offensive operation like ambush, attack on security forces, blockade, activities which would disrupt the functioning of the Government and move either in uniforms or with arms in public among others at the time of signing the SoO agreement.

Chief Minister N Biren, during the recent Assembly session, had stated that there are strong indications of Kuki militant groups taking part in attacking Meitei villages.

The Chief Minister had also stated that the State Government will try to shift some designated camps of Kuki militant groups and remove those camps which are situated in close proximity to National Highways.

As per the official record, there are 14 designated camps (seven each of UPF and KNO) of Kuki militant groups under SoO pact.

The designated camps of KNO are Mongbung camp (Churachandpur), N Phaisat camp (Churachandpur), Chongkhojou camp (Churachandpur), Nalon camp (Churachandpur), Shamushang camp (Kangpokpi), T Gamnom camp (Kangpokpi) and Chelep camp (Tengnoupal).

Designated camps of UPF, on the other hand, are Ankhasuo camp (Pherzawl), Phaibatang camp (Pherzawl), Mt Sinai camp (Pherzawl), New Teikot camp (Churachandpur), Moulvaiphei camp (Chandel), Natheljang camp (Kangpokpi) and Thingsat camp (Kangpokpi) .

Recently, it was found that the valley districts of Manipur were surrounded by the designated camps of Kuki militant groups.