Rein in SoO groups too : MA to Governor
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2025: The initiative to collect arms is appreciated, but it must be applied uniformly across all factions, including armed groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, the Meitei Alliance has said in a memorandum submitted to Governor AK Bhalla.

"No village should live in perpetual fear of attacks by Kuki militants.

While the initiative to collect arms is appreciated, it must apply uniformly across all factions, including armed groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.

Otherwise, it risks being perceived as a hollow gesture� disarming one section of society while allowing militants to remain armed and unchallenged," stressed the alliance.

The Meitei Alliance's memorandum came in the wake of the Governor asking arms to be surrendered within a period of 7 days recently.

Rein in SoO groups too : MA to Governor

The Governor had issued a public notification asking all illegal arms to be surrendered within a period of 7 days on February 20 .

In the memorandum, the Meitei Alliance asserted that the Central Government must first demonstrate impartial justice and regain the trust of the people for voluntary surrender of arms.

True peace can only emerge through fairness and accountability.

Swift action must be taken up against all perpetrators of violence, starting with those who initiated the armed attacks on May 3, 2023, said the alliance, giving detailed accounts of the incidents that led to the nearly 2-year-old violent conflict.

The alliance stressed that it is crucial for the Centre to acknowledge why people felt compelled to take up arms and what conditions would enable them to surrender voluntarily.

The security forces must act with absolute neutrality, addressing the concerns of all communities equally to reinforce the Government's commitment to justice, it said.

Manipur remains awash with arms and ammunition possessed by various groups.

Notably, the first recorded use of automatic weapons in the ongoing violence occurred on May 3, 2023, during the so-called "peace rally" organized by Kuki groups in Churachandpur, said the Meitei Alliance in the memorandum that included pictures of suspected militants wielding automatic rifles amid a crowd.

The identification and prosecution of the two militants who openly brandished assault rifles that day [May 3, 2023]�marking the first public display of armed violence�are paramount.

Selectively targeting looted arms while allowing these militants to go unpunished only deepens public scepticism toward the Government and security forces, asserted the Meitei Alliance.

For genuine peace to be restored, citizens must feel safe and protected by security forces.

Their failure to prevent attacks left many with no choice but to arm themselves to defend their families, including women and children, and to safeguard the integrity of the State against external aggression, it said.

To do away with the fear of being attacked by Kuki militants, the armed groups under SoO must be brought under strict control.

While weapons are collected from all groups, the SoO militant camps may be "moved" deep into the hills, far away from the National Highways and public settlement areas.

This will help a long way in building public confidence and restoring trust, the alliance said.

Additionally, displaced individuals must be resettled in their homes and villages without further delay, and continued presence of militant groups terrorising civilians and blocking National Highways must be decisively addressed, it added.

The Meitei Alliance further identified "key areas requiring immediate attention"--

1) Dismantling artificial buffer zones
The continued separation of communities through enforced buffer zones empowers divisive forces and delays reconciliation.

These artificial barriers must be removed as a priority to prevent further territorial and ethnic divisions.

2) Protecting our children's future
The ongoing crisis has taken an immeasurable toll on children, affecting their physical, emotional, educational, and psychological well-being.

The unfiltered portrayal of brutal violence in the media has instilled deep-seated fear, discouraging children from attending school.

A lack of prompt intervention risks an entire generation's future, making societal rebuilding exponentially more challenging.

3) Securing the future of VDF youths
Many young individuals, driven by necessity and vulnerability, took up arms to defend their communities in the absence of security forces.

These youths must not face legal repercussions for stepping up where the system failed them.

"We propose forming a specialized unit, such as a highway protection force, to channel their skills productively while addressing critical security needs" .

4) Securing the National Highways
The National Highways, lifelines to the State, must be secured.

No Kuki militant or any other organization should dictate terms on the free movement of goods and people.

The skyrocketing prices of essential commodities are terrorizing citizens, particularly in Imphal.

Restoring unrestricted movement across State and National Highways is imperative to ensure fundamental rights and economic stability, said the Meitei Alliance.