Extension of SoO pact : State Govt intimates MHA, delay peeves outfits
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
N Delhi / Imphal, September 21 2014:
As the expression of displeasure has begun to come out from the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) regarding the formalisation of the extension of Suspension of Operation (SoO), the State Government has reportedly intimated the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to fix a date for the tripartite meetings with both the KNO and the United Peoples' Front (UPF) .
It has been one month now that the Suspension of Operation (SoO) had expired with the KNO and UPF but no formal signing for the extension of the SoO was done.
A well placed source disclosed to Newmai News Network this afternoon that about four days ago the State Government had intimated to the Ministry of Home Affairs to fix a date for the tripartite meetings with the KNO and UPF.
However, when contacted, Chief Secretary of Manipur P C Lawmkunga informed Newmai News Network that he has no knowledge of the matter.
"Not to my knowledge so far," was what the Chief Secretary had to say.
Meanwhile, disappointed over the delay in signing the SoO extension, KNO spokesman Dr Seilen Haokip told NNN that the umbrella outfit of the Kuki underground organisations is trying to figure out the reason.
"This time the situation is very peculiar," said Dr Seilen Haokip, adding, "This is a case of extreme irregularity on the part of the Government" .
Dr Seilen Haokip further said, "If the Government functions like this then we cannot expect any good from it." The KNO leader also said that so far the Government has not officially intimated to the Kuki outfit on the extension of the SoO term.
"We only heard it from the media," he stated, adding, "But this cannot be termed as official" .
Dr Seilen hinted that extension of SoO unilaterally by the Government without the usual tripartite meeting cannot be accepted.
According to the KNO spokesman, the outfit had written to the chairman of the tripartite meeting who is also the Chief Secretary of Manipur on August 28 on the matter.
"But so far no reply has come forth from the Government of Manipur," he rued.
Dr Seilen Haokip said the KNO will wait for a few more days and decide its next move if the Government continues to remain mute over the issue.
The UPF too chose to wait for sometime more on the matter, according to a top UPF leader.
The KNO and UPF became disheartened when political dialogues were not held several years after they had signed the Suspension of Operation pact.
Both KNO and UPF had threatened not to extend the SoO saying there was no point in periodically extending it when there is not going to be political dialogues.
It can be noted here that both the leaders of KNO and UPF had met Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju in New Delhi last month.
The Minister had reportedly assured both the groups that the Government would initiate steps to begin political dialogues soon.
Following this assurance, both KNO and UPF had agreed to extend the SoO after it expires on August 22, 2014 .
Defence Secretary of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) TS Haokip had met Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on August 16 in New Delhi and had discussed on the much hyped commencement of the political dialogue between the two parties in the near future.
Rijiju had assured the KNO leader that political dialogue would be initiated soon.
A few days before that, the UPF leaders too were assured by the Union Minister that dialogue would start.
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