Imphal, September 23 2010: Manipur Chief Secretary DS Poonia has said that political dialogue with the Kuki militant groups maintaining ceasefire with the government forces under the tripartite agreement on Suspension of Operations (SoO) will start soon.

"We have good conditions in which to start a political dialogue with the signatory outfits (under SoO) and try to solve all the issues.

The dialogue with the 18 Kuki militant outfits, signatories to the tripartite SoO agreement with the Central and state government will be initiated at the earliest," the Chief Secretary said.

He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the "Camp Ebenezer", the designated peace camp of the Kuki National Front today in Sadar Hills in Senapati district on Thursday.

Local MLA of Saikhul Assembly constituency, Doukhomang Khongsai, president of Kuki Women's Union, Manipur, Prof Rose Mangsi Haokip attended the inaugural function held at the designated camp.

"Terms and conditions of the dialogue will be chalked out in the next round of tripartite talks scheduled on September 29 in which progress of implementation of the agreement arrived at last meeting held in New Delhi will be reviewed," DS Poonia said.

The separate tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF) and the Central and the State governments on one side that has been existing since 2008 August 22 has been extended by 45 days during a meeting held in New Delhi on August 22 last.

The next round of talks is to be held for further extension of the agreement which expires on October 6 next and it will also chalk out the modality of the political dialogue with the two umbrella organisations, government officials said.

Among others, the agreement included cadres of all signatory outfits confining themselves within their designated camps opened in different places and having to deposit their arms to be kept under double lock by September 20 which would be kept in the camp armoury or with the nominated Police/SFs.

Construction of 10 designated camps has so far been completed and cadres have entered the camps and deposited their arms with the double lock armouries.

Prof Rose Mangsi Haokip, who spoke on the occasion, appealed to the government not to do anything which would demoralize the cadres after they have been lodged at the designated camps and after depositing their arms.

"Governments should treat them with regard as they have not surrendered but taken a step towards peace in the region," Prof Rose Mangshi Haokip said and expressed hope that the political dialogue expected will be a fruitful and meaningful one.

Mangsi, while exhorting the cadres present there, said that they too should not feel demoralized thinking that they are unarmed.

"There are many things that they can do for the welfare of the Kuki people.

Your struggle is marching towards achieving the ends when you entered the SoO agreement with the governments," she said.

Leaders of the KNF reiterated that the signing of SoO agreement and depositing of arms should not be treated as an end to the struggle of the outfit and appealed for sincerity of the Central government in bringing a settlement through political dialogue.

Reiterating their demands, they said a separate state for the Kuki people in the hill areas of Manipur will be one among other agenda to be included in the political dialogue.

Comment