KNO petitions GoM for starting tripartite talks soon
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

New Delhi, August 28 2014: Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an umbrella body of Kuki UG groups which are signatory of Suspension of Operation (SoO), has sent a missive to the Government of Manipur today urging the latter to initiate for starting of the tripartite meeting involving the outfit, Manipur Government and the Central Government at New Delhi at the earliest.

The letter of KNO was addressed to the Chief Secretary of Manipur.

When contacted by Newmai News Network tonight over phone, Manipur Chief Secretary PC Lawmkunga confirmed the letter from the KNO being received.

The Manipur Chief Secretary, however, said it is the concern of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to decide the date for the tripartite meeting.

Meanwhile, sources disclosed Newmai News Network here in New Delhi today that the KNO letter to the Manipur Government expressed appreciation on the purported extension of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) after its expiry on August 22."However, we need to formalise the SoO extension through a tripartite meeting," said a source from the KNO.

On the other hand, United Peoples' Front (UPF), another umbrella body of Kuki UG groups which are also signatory of SoO, has denied certain speculations that it had received intimation from the Government for holding the tripartite meeting.

"We have no idea when the meeting will be held," said a UPF leader.

It is already six days since the current term of Suspension of Operation (SoO) between the Government, the Kuki National Organisaion (KNO) and the United Peoples' Front (UPF) expired on August 22 but as Principal Secretary of the Government of Manipur Suresh Babu is on leave the formal signing for the extension of the SoO is yet to be done.

The Manipur Government's Principal Secretary is to take an initiative as a formality for any tripartite meeting involving either KNO or UPF with Manipur Government and New Delhi.

It can be noted here that both the leaders of KNO and UPF had met Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi last week.

The Minister had reportedly assured both the groups that the Government would initiate to begin political dialogues soon.

Following this assurance, both KNO and UPF had agreed to extend the SoO after it expires on August 22 .

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