COCOMI questions rational of inking SoO pact
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 28 2024: Saying that the Government signing a pact with Kuki militants defies logic, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has urged the Central Government to uphold the decision taken by the State Assembly and the Cabinet to abrogate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact.

Speaking to the media at its office at Lamphelpat today, COCOMI convenor Thokchom Somorendro said that the Government of India (GoI) should revoke the tripartite agreement if they take the people of Manipur as fellow Indians.

Reminding that the State Government had already adopted a resolution to walk out from the SoO agreement, he added that the Central Government should uphold the decision.

COCOMI questions rational of inking SoO pact

People may launch a series of protests against the GoI if the Central leadership renews the SoO pact, Somorendro cautioned.

Stating that there are indications of the Central leadership discussing the stand of the State Government on SoO pact as per the latter, the COCOMI leader added that it would be better for all if the GoI revokes the agreement signed with Kuki militant groups.

Further stating that there is no reason for the Government to enter into any agreement with the Kuki militants who came from foreign lands, Somorendro demanded that Manipur should no longer be made a part of the SoO agreement.

If extending the SoO pact is very much necessary to the GoI than they can do it in another State but not Manipur, he added.

Saying that COCOMI will launch a series of protests along with the people if the GoI renews the SoO agreement with the Kuki militant groups, he said that how these Kuki militant groups came into being is known by all.

He asked how the GoI signed the SoO pact with over two dozen Kuki militant groups which didn't engage in a single gunfight with the Indian Army.

An arrangement like SoO has to be made when there is hostility between two parties to resolve the issue through discussion, the COCOMI leader said while questioning the motive of the GoI behind bringing the Kuki militant groups to the negotiating table.

He went on to state that the GoI bringing Kuki militants who have been causing trouble in Bangladesh and Myanmar to Manipur and signing the SoO pact was nonsensical.

Claiming that the GoI turning a blindeye to the atrocities meted out to Meiteis by Kuki militants is unfortunate, Somorendro urged the Central leaders to stop treating the people of Manipur like outsiders at once.

The State Government decided to not support the SoO pact because the Kuki militant groups flouted the ground rules of the agreement by attacking Meetei civilians openly, he said and asked why the Central Government is still not upholding the decision of the Manipur Government which represents an Indian State.

Meanwhile, Somorendro said that they have suspended the decision taken to launch agitations pertaining to gross misrepresentation of Manipur as a Chin State in North East Vision 2047 as the Chief Minister has demanded an inquiry into the matter to the DoNER Minister.

He also said that COCOMI has received one response from the Government side on the issue.

Manipur should never be termed a Chin State, Somorendro asserted and asked whether the GoI was deliberating describing Manipur as a Chin State.