SoO with UPF, KNO likely to continue
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal/New Delhi, August 14 2014 :
While United People's Front (UPF) has already decided to agree to the extension of the current Suspension of Operation (SoO) after it expires on August 22, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) also indicated on Wednesday that SoO is likely to continue for it as well.
KNO leader Dr Seilen Haokip informed Newmai News Network that recently Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and representatives of KNO had a meeting with Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju.
"The Union Home Minister of State's stand has been encouraging," said Dr Seilen Haokip.
The KNO leader also disclosed that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, though they did not meet him, had written to Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami to have 'urgent attention' on the issue.
Meanwhile, UPF held its 8th Foundation Day on August 12 at Camp Ebenezer in Sadar Hills, Senapati district where its chairman ST Thangboi unfurled the UPF flag.
UPF was formed on August 12 in 2006 with the blessing of Mizoram Government.
After the function yesterday, the UPF leaders in a meeting decided to agree to extend the SoO term after its expiry on August 22 .
It can be recalled here that a leader of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) had told NNN earlier that they were still observing the situation.
"We have not decided whether to extend the SoO term or not," the top KNO source disclosed Newmai News Network, adding, "We are closely observing the situation and we are also observing what the Government of India's initiative is regarding our position" .
"Signing the SoO pact just for the sake of signing every time it expires is a futile exercise," stated the KNO source.
The KNO however, expressed hope that the NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be better than the previous Congress led UPA government.
Both UPF and KNO are engaging in political struggle with similar ideologies.
The KNO, however, in recent time is widening its political advocacy and perspective.
Early this year, KNO president PS Haokip had mentioned it in his message on the KNO Raising Day on February 24 in Churachandpur district of Manipur that stretching from Kachin state of Burma covering up to Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh and Tuensang and Mon districts of the Konyak and Khimniungan region in the present day Nagaland in India, as well as the land of the Heimi people in Myanmar (Burma) to which tribe SS Khaplang, leader of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), including Upper Chindwin and Kale Kabow valley in Sagaing Division are entirely ethnic Kachin-Kuki inhabited.The Kachins have always maintained their link through folklore connections with the Kukis, the KNO chief had added.