Don't extend SoO pact further : FOCS to GoI
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 26 2024:
The Government of India must walk the talk and treat the Kuki militants' aggression as an attack on the country, and implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur with 1951 as the base year, said the Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) today.
In a statement released to the media by its vice-president BM Yaima Shah, FOCS made a series of demands to the Centre and the State Government on various issues surrounding the more than one year old conflict that has widened the trust deficit between the Meitei and Kuki community.
Notably, the demand to declare the conflict as an external aggression and an attack on India came months after Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chief Minister N Biren Singh indicated involvement of illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries.
On August 9, 2023 in Parliament, Union Home Minister Shah had said that the conflict in Manipur was fuelled by influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar.
Identifying the illegal immigrants infiltrating from the porous border and settling inside Manipur as a major cause of the current conflict, FOCS said the Govt of India must implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to detect, identify and deport all illegal immigrants from Manipur.
It said the NRC must be implemented with 1951 as the base year to identify illegal immigrants.
Further, armed Kuki-Zo groups in the Indo-Myanmar-Bangladesh region aspiring to create an Independent Christian State in western interest are against the security and interest of India.
As such, the Government of India must not support the armed Kuki-Zo groups, said FOCS.
The term for Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact signed between the "Kuki terrorist organisations" has expired hence, the Government of India must be free to act against them.
The Centre must not support the groups and extend the SoO agreement further, added FOCS.
Taking strong exception to the demand for separate administration that has been raised by the Kukis, FOCS said without the knowledge and permission of the State Government, the Centre must not take up any agenda that may undermine the State's integrity.
Even as Manipur has lost hundreds of hectares of forest to illegal poppy cultivation and illegal human settlements set up in Reserved and Protected Forests, FOCS said the Indian Forest Act, 1927 must be implemented in totality to protect forests.
Those who have violated the Act must be penalised according to the law, it added.
While illegal cultivation of poppy is checked, FOCS said stringent punishment must be given to offenders of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substance Act 1985 .
Other demands raised by FOCS
Manipur must be declared a full fledged Hill State.
The law and order is a State subject and as such, the State must be given the full power and responsibility to maintain law and order.
Kuki narco-terrorists have attacked and killed civilians and burnt houses in different parts of Manipur.
They have extorted money and attacked vehicles plying the National Highways.
To secure the Highways, the Government must establish a dedicated Highway Protection Force, said FOCS.
Places of worship and historical sites, recognised under the Historical Monument Act 1951, Ancient Monument Act 1904 and Ancient Monument Act 1958 must be well protected and preserved.
Any Kuki Tribes and Kuki illegal immigrants "must be removed" from the list of Scheduled Tribes.
"Normalcy and peace may be restored only when armed Kuki-Zo groups cease attacking Meiteis.
Talking with illegal immigrant aggressors is politically wrong," said FOCS.
The Government of India must stop using Kuki-Zo mercenaries against Meiteis for geopolitical gains.
This is highly unconstitutional for a democracy, added FOCS.
The Government of India must amend and insert a clause under Article 3 of the Constitution to protect and safeguard the interests of the indigenous people, it said.
The Government of India must honour the Manipur Merger Agreement of 1949 .
It was the Merger Agreement that Maharaja Bodhachandra signed that merged Manipur with the Union of India.
The Government must never do anything to dishonour the agreement that was signed in the interest of the people of Manipur.
Dishonouring the Merger Agreement would be the same as breaking the legal premises on which the political relationship between Manipur and India was built upon, said FOCS.