Centre urged not to extend SoO
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 08 2025: The Meitei Heritage Welfare Foundation (MHWF) has urged the Government of India to refrain from extending the tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact with Chin Kuki militant groups.

In a press release, the Foundation expressed concern over the Ministry of Home Affairs' potential extension of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with Chin Kuki militant groups.

Citing the State Government's prior collective decision to abrogate the pact, widespread opposition to the SoO pact among the people and the investigations implicating SoO groups in the Manipur crisis, including attacks on security forces, the MHWF urged the Central Government to not extend the controversial pact.

The Foundation stated the Government considering extending the SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups in exchange for closing two designated camps belonging to the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) is alarming.

Three existing ZRA camps - Camp Muvanlai, Mt Sinai, and Phaiba - are already located in remote areas, it said and added that shutting down two of these camps would likely have minimal impact on controlling law and order issues.

The conditio to close two camps is nothing but an eyewash to secure SoO extension, it charged.

The MWHF went on to state that rewarding these militant groups with renewed protection or relocation of camps using taxpayers' money would effectively legitimize their illegal activities.

Recounting that the Manipur Government had taken a decision to abrogate the SoO pact because of repeated violations of its ground rules by the militants, the Foundation said that the agreement stands terminated as no renewal was signed after February 29, 2024.The MHWF urged the Centre not to sign any agreement with Chin Kuki militant groups, stating that it would override the popularly elected Government's decision and disregard the public's demand for peace across communities.

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