SoO groups not above the public voice rings out
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 29 2025: A section of Kuki people has expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) initiatives aimed at restoring normalcy in Manipur.

According to well placed sources, the primary concern revolves around the perceived prioritization of militant groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement for talks by the MHA, which many feel is overshadowing the needs and concerns of the broader Kuki community.

Significantly the Churachandpur residence of KNO spokesperson Seilen Haokip was set on fire by an enraged mob on July 4, 2023.Technically, the SoO agreement had expired on February 29, 2024 and hasn't been renewed yet.

The sources continued that a more inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders is essential for a peace process that truly represents the people's needs and aspirations.

While different civil society organizations and village volunteer groups also speak for the Kuki community, the Government's prioritization of militant groups under the SoO agreement for holding talks has fuelled discontent among a section of Kuki people, they said.

The sources also alleged that the groups that signed the SoO agreement with the Government have a history of misappropriating funds sanctioned for various schemes and development projects.

A section of Kuki people had expressed discontent with these groups even before the SoO agreement was inked, the sources further claimed.

The sources expressed doubt that the groups under the SoO pact would speak in the larger interests of the Kuki people during talks with the MHA, noting that they have been closely monitoring the developments.

Any initiative aimed at restoring normalcy in Manipur must prioritize the people's interests above all else be it Kuki or Meitei, they emphasized, stressing that the welfare of the people should be the top priority.

Both Meitei and Kuki communities are suffering and as such prioritizing only the militant groups under the SoO pact would anger the general population, the sources continued.

The sources claimed that not a single family member of the cadres of the SoO groups had been killed in the violence that has plagued Manipur since May 3, 2023.Instead, it is the ordinary Kuki people who are bearing the brunt, struggling to access basic necessities like food, medical care, and education, they said and added that farmers, on the other hand, are unable to sell the vegetables they have grown due to lack of access to markets.

The sources warned that ignoring the sentiments of the Kuki people and continuing to prioritize SoO groups in peace talks could spark conflict among the Kuki community themselves.

The last round of talks between Kuki militant groups and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) took place on June 9 this year.

According to a report published by ThePrint, the talks were held with five members of Kuki-Zo SoO groups, MHA's North East Adviser AK Mishra and Intelligence Bureau officials and the discussion revolved around opening of highways to ensure that free movement of people across the State without any obstruction, and the Kuki-Zo groups demanding a "revision in the ground rules" of the SoO agreement.

The surrender of weapons that were looted post May 3, 2023, was also discussed in detail, the source said.

"We are glad that the resumption of dialogue happened after so long.

We discussed how to find a way forward.

It is a good start, we covered many points in the discussion including revision of the ground rules of the SoO pact," a leader who attended the meeting told ThePrint.

"The new ground rules which require rewording of many phrases has to be done.

The second meeting will be held soon, hopefully within a week" .

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