Kuki MLAs censure House stand to end SoO pact
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 01 2024: The 10 Kuki MLAs, who had been skipping consecutive sessions of the Manipur Legislative Assembly held since outbreak of the ethnic violence in May, 2023, dismissed as 'biased' the resolution passed by the state assembly urging the union government to abrogate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed with all Kuki-Zo armed outfit.

In a joint statement, the 10 legislators belonging to the Ku-ki-Zomi-Hmar communities said, "It is a one-sided resolution emanating from prejudice, bias and hatred for our community that reflects a myopic view on the issue".

Of the MLAs, seven belong to the ruling BJP, while two are from Kuki People's Alliance (KPA) and one Independent.

The said MLAs namely Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi/commerce and industries minister); Letpao Haokip (Tengnoupal/minister for Tribal Areas and Hills), Kimneo Haokip Hangshing (Saikul), Haokholet Kipgen (Saitu), Ngursanglur Sanate Tipaimukh), Vungjagin Valte Thanlon), Letzamang Haokip Henglep), LM Khaute (Churachandpur), Paolienlal Haokip Saikot) and Chinlunthang Manlun (Singhat), were not present in the assembly when the resolution was passed.

According to the joint statement, as part of the SoO pact, a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) comprising representatives of central and state government agencies, the KNO and UPF was formed to oversee adherence to the Ground Rules.

"We would like to question whether the resolution adopted by the august House was based on any report or observations of the JMG, which is the only official mechanism to determine whether any violation of the Ground Rules has taken place or not," the statement read.

The agreement was lauded as the harbinger of peace in the state when it was signed in 2008 and Manipur, particularly the hill districts, has witnessed a sea change in the security scenario as the level of violence came down drastically in the years that followed with "successive governments taking their share of credit over improvement in the law and order situation in the state owing to the signing of the agreement," it maintained.

Expressing suspicion that the resolution was aimed at defaming the KNO and the UPF and further alienate the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar community in Manipur, the legislators urged the union home ministry to consider the issue fairly to prevent further discrimination and alienation of their people.

They also opined that the resolution stems from animosity rather than factual assessment.

"The recent signing of a peace accord with the UNLF was initiated by the state government, and the role played by this outfit during this short period in the current violence is widely known to one and all," the statement said with reference to the accord signed between the Pambei-led UNLF on November 29, 2023 and government of India and Manipur.

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