Decision contradicts essence of pact : KNO
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, March 12 2023: The Kuki National Organization (KNO), one of the umbrella organizations of the Kuki UGs and an entity of the tripartite talk with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur has termed the decision of the State Cabinet to withdraw KNA and ZRA from Suspension of Operations (SoO) as contradictory to the very essence of SoO.

The State Cabinet led by Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday evening decided to withdraw from tripartite talks with two militant groups, the Kuki National Army (KNA) and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) .

However, KNO stated that the Cabinet decision contradicted the very essence of the SoO, which since its inception in 2008, has ushered huge peace dividends in the hills of Manipur.

Joint Secretary, Information and Publicity of KNO, Stephen Kuki stated that the primary purpose of signing SoO in 2008 was to create an atmosphere conducive for amicable political dialogue among the Government of India, the State Government of Manipur, and the two umbrella organizations, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF) .

He also stated that the progress made in the course of dialogue from 2019 till date is commendable, given that settlement is sought within the Constitutional framework of India and within the State of Manipur.

With regard to the peace rally held on March 10, the KNO leader stated that the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) organized a peaceful march in protest against the Government of Manipur for not following proper procedure concerning the declaration of parts of the Scheduled Areas as Reserved Forest, Protected Forest, Protected Sites and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Citing an example, the KNO leader pointed out that K Songjang village is a Gazetted village within the Kungpi Naosen village area recognized in 1926, but was regardlessly evicted on February 20, 2023 .

To air public grievances, the ITLF organized a peaceful march on March 10, which went off successfully with a memorandum submitted to the Governor and the Chief Minister, he added.

On CM's statement in a Northeast Live interview, the KNO leader stated that Chief Minister N Biren Singh made a statement that the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zo Revolutionary Army (ZRA) are catalysts of the peaceful march, along with allegations of promoting poppy cultivation; and lastly raised the issue of nationality of PS Haokip and Thanglianpau, respectively leaders of KNA and ZRA, on which account the State Cabinet took a decision to withdraw the two organizations from Suspension of Operations (SoO) .

Concerning the question of Nationality, the KNO leader clarified that it would suffice to state that PS Haokip is a citizen of India, born at Akhan village in Phek district of Nagaland while Thanglianpau was formerly a Member of Parliament from the National League of Democracy, Myanmar, but has acquired Indian citizenship.

Regarding poppy cultivation, Stephen Kuki stated that KNO has extensively engaged in the eradication of poppy since 2016, and the Government's active role in this endeavour as of 2022 has also contributed positively - that which KNO alone was unable to by itself has now been achieved with greater success.

This demonstrated a positive outcome owing to collective engagement concerning issues of common good, he added.

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