Centre yet to list SoO rule violations: KNO leader
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 27 2024: The union home ministry has not yet listed out detailed account of the alleged violations of ground rules by Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, according to spokesperson and senior leader of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) Seilen Haokip.

He emphasised that the Kuki-Zo-Hmar groups are not "secessionists" and that their demands for a separate administration in Manipur fall within the constitutional framework.

In an interview with The Hindu, Seilen Haokip explained that the group's initial demand was for autonomous territorial councils within Manipur, but events since May 3, 2023, have led to a significant shift in their position.

"Our demands have evolved due to the changing circumstances.

In May, our MLAs asked the home minister for a separate administration.

By July, August, and September, we had redefined this as a demand for Union Territory status with a legislature, similar to Delhi," he said.

Earlier this year, the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to terminate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the United People's Front (UPF) and the KNO, umbrella organisations representing 25 militant groups.

The state government accused these groups of inciting violence.

The SoO agreement, that came to exist officially for the first time in 2008 between the Centre, state government, and Kuki militant groups, is currently under review following the state government's decision not to extend the pact in February.

Seilen Haokip noted that KNO and UPF have not been informed of the specific reasons for this review.

"We have seven camps each for KNO and UPF, with 2200 approved cadres, most of whom possess automatic weapons," he stated.

"The state is proposing a new mechanism to address these allegations, but since the violence erupted on May 3, 2023, there have been no meetings to discuss these issues, and no clear communication on what the alleged violations are".

The KNO leader recently met with MHA advisor for northeast, AK Mishra, and reported that home minister Amit Shah is advocating for peace through the SoO agreement.

He criticised the state government's unilateral decision to abrogate the SoO, arguing that it goes against the Centre's intentions for peace.

"The Centre is willing to continue dialogue for a political settlement, but for that to happen, the SoO needs to be in place," he said.

Manipur has been experiencing unprecedented crisis between Kuki and Meetei communities since May 3, 2023, after a tribal solidarity march organised by All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) turned violent in Churachandpur and the protestors turned their wrath on Meetei residents of Churachandpur and neighbouring Bishnupur districts.

The violence reached Moreh and Kangpokpi by sundown and finally reached the valley in the late night.

So far, the violence has resulted in at least 226 deaths and the displacement of over 60,000 people.

Addressing allegations of looted police armouries, Seilen Haokip acknowledged that weapons were taken from the hills but claimed the numbers were significantly lower than those looted in the valley.

"In the hills, about 200 weapons were looted, compared to 4,000 in the valley, with over 6 lakh rounds of ammunition.

In times of conflict, our people need weapons to defend themselves," he asserted, adding that most of the looted weapons have since been returned to the authorities.

He also highlighted the hardships faced by the insurgent cadres, who have not received stipends for two years.

"The infrastructure of the camps established in 2008 has collapsed, and despite repeated appeals for repairs and stipends, nothing has been done.

Cadres are forced to resort to petty crimes out of desperation to survive," he said.

"Who has violated the ground rules more? Ours is peanuts compared to the state's violations," he added.

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