COCOMI questions legitimacy of extending SoO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 05 2025: The Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has stated that extending the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement without a popular Government in place in Manipur is illegitimate, reflecting an undemocratic and hegemonic imposition on the State's indigenous people and their elected representatives.

A press release issued by COCOMI said that they condemn and oppose the Government of India's decision to extend the SoO agreement with the Chin-Kuki armed narco-terrorist groups, as signed and announced yesterday in New Delhi.

COCOMI accused the Government of India of legitimizing narco terrorist operations by granting them impunity under a deceptive pact, while undermining the rights, security, and future of the indigenous people of Manipur and the North East region at large.

Saying that the extension of the SoO agreement despite the series of terrorist and criminal acts committed by these groups is a decision that runs completely against the interests of the indigenous people of Manipur, COCOMI reaffirmed its stand to firmly oppose 'this anti-people move of the Government of India' .

The popularly elected Government of Manipur had, through a Cabinet decision on 10th of March 2023, unanimously resolved to abrogate the SoO agreement, the Committee reminded.

Stating that the administration in Manipur is currently run by an authority appointed from New Delhi, COCOMI said that the President's Rule Government lacks the legitimacy to represent the people of Manipur in letter and spirit.

The decision to extend the SoO without a popular Government in Manipur is illegitimate and reflects an undemocratic and hegemonic imposition upon the indigenous people and its elected representatives, it reiterated.

By extending overwhelming legitimacy and recognition to armed Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups under the deceptive pact of the SoO, the Government of India has raised serious doubts about its role and responsibility in dealing with narco-terrorism in the region, the Committee said.

Alleging that SoO pact has only shielded armed narco terrorists while undermining the democratic will of the people since its introduction in 2005 and 2008, COCOMI added that the international community too will question India's credibility in combating narco-terrorism when it is seen as providing safe passage and impunity to such groups.

The Government of India has wilfully disregarded the unanimous resolution of the Manipur Legislative Assembly taken on 29 February 2024 urging the Government of India to revoke (abrogate) the SoO, the Committee charged and added that the President's Rule administration in Manipur instead has been made a party to the tripartite talks without any mandate from the people.

This act represents a complete compromise of the basic principles of democracy, it said.

Asserting that the Constitution of India guarantees free movement to every citizen across the country as a fundamental right, the Committee maintained that the Government of India, however, has undermined its own Constitutional obligations by turning free movement into a bargaining chip with armed narco-terrorist groups.

Such actions portray the Government as holding the Meetei population hostage at gunpoint under narco-terrorist influence and as such it is utterly unacceptable, COCOMI said.

Looking into all these aspects, COCOMI rejected the extension of the SoO agreement.

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