Imphal, July 21, 2010: Chief Minister O Ibobi today said that the government has a clear stand to keep any militant outfit out of agreement of Suspension of Operation (SoO) if they are found violating the ground rules, and appropriate action would be initiated against those cadres violating the rules.

The Chief Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment while the matter of violation of ground rules by Kuki militants under SoO agreements was being discussed in the House of the Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

A calling attention motion in this regard was moved by the Opposition.

Appropriate action would be taken up if any of the outfits under SoO is found violating the ground rules, assured Chief Minister O Ibobi.

He recalled that in the past too, actions were taken after the matter was investigated by the Joint Monitoring Group citing the instance of suspending the stipends of a group for its involvement in fraudulent withdrawal of funds from a bank in Churachandpur district.

The Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) of SoO has provided a useful forum for addressing violations of ground rules of the agreement, he said, and cited the incident of recovery of Rs.4.54 crore fraudulently withdrawn from the UBI branch in Churachandpur district.

The Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), a group included in signing the truce was found involved in the scam.

The JMG, headed by the state Chief Secretary, is examining the cases of violations.

The Chief Minister further said that developments of infrastructures of 10 designation camps are under progress.

Stern action would be initiated against those cadres of the groups under SoO, he said asserting that the government is closely examining all cases registered with the police regarding the violation of ground rules by the cadres.

With regard to the recent tension that prevailed in Moreh involving a group under SoO, the Chief Minister gave a brief account of the incident involving Kuki National Army (KNA), and said that the matter has been subsided through talks between the government officials and the civil societies.

The controversy behind the tension in the border town related to cadres of KNA when they allegedly searched for the president of Meetei Council Moreh (MCM), L Imobi and general secretary Thoiba on the night of July 13, he said adding that police also registered a case.

Interrupting the clarification made by the Chief Minister, Bijoy Koijam, who took the main initiative to settle the matter, said that it was settled after officials concerned held rounds of meetings with leaders of civil societies.

Reiterating that KNA is among the outfits under KNO signing trust with the government, the Joint Monitoring Group will look into any violation of ground rules in the incident and will discuss in the next round of meeting of the group.

While moving the call attention motion, opposition member RK Anand of MPP observed that not only the recent Moreh incident, there had many instants of violation of ground rules by militant groups under SoO.

As the Moreh incident related with threatening of civilians by armed cadres under SoO, government should not take it lightly and if such incident is allowed to occur frequently, major community in the town may cross their patience.

The resultant will not be an good one, Anand cautioned.

He also asked the basis of signing trust with KNA observing that the outfit is based in Myanmar even though its activities expanded in Manipur and also charged the security forces and police of not responding in the Moreh incident even though complaints were lodged immediately.

Comment