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The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
MHA resumes talks with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups after 2 yrs to discuss ‘way forward', renewal of SoO pact
According to government sources, the discussion revolved around opening of highways to ensure that free movement of people across the state without any obstruction, and the Kuki-Zo groups demanding a 'revision in the ground rules' of the SoO agreement. The talks were held with five members of Kuki Zo SoO groups, MHA's Northeast adviser A.K. Mishra and Intelligence Bureau officials Monday. New Delhi: After a gap of almost 2 years, the Ministry of Home Affairs resumed talks with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups in Manipur to discuss a 'way ahead' for a 'political solution' for the state and a broad outline for the suspension of operations (SoO) pact that remains in limbo. The surrender of weapons that were looted post 3 May, 2023, was also discussed in detail, the source said. National Highways-2 and 37, that connect the Imphal valley to Nagaland and Assam respectively, are critical for supply of essentials and other commodities. They pass through Kuki-Zo inhabited areas and have seen blockades and protests in the last 3 years, hindering supply of essentials. 'We are glad that the resumption of dialogue happened after so long. We discussed how to find a way forward. It is a good start, we covered many points in the discussion including revision of the ground rules of the SoO pact,' a leader who attended the meeting told ThePrint. 'The new ground rules which require rewording of many phrases has to be done. The second meeting will be held soon, hopefully within a week.' Before the violence erupted in the state, the key demand of the SoO groups was to have autonomous territorial councils within Manipur, which later changed to a separate administration for Kuki-Zo areas, defining it as a Union territory with a legislature. The SoO camps had become the focal point of the ongoing conflict in the state as former CM N. Biren Singh, time and again, accused these cadres of 'contributing to the escalation of violence'. The camps were established as part of a pact signed on 22 August, 2008, between the Kuki militant groups and the central and Manipur governments, in light of the Kuki-Naga clashes in the 1990s. According to the SoO agreement, members of these groups were required to suspend their operation as insurgents and stay within designated camps with their weapons securely stored in safe zones under a double-locking system. The agreement has been periodically extended each year, except on 29 February last year when the Manipur government pulled out from the tripartite pact. There is now a demand to relocate the SoO camps away from areas near the valley districts—which has a concentration of Meitei population—and to reduce the number of camps from 14 to 7. 'The discussion on the renewal of the camps has not yet happened. It is an ongoing process,' a government source said. (Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri) Also read: Manipur on edge after arrest of radical Meitei leader—ex-cop wanted for abduction of senior officer
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre meets Kuki-Zo groups, discusses opening of highways, surrender of weapons
Union Home Ministry (MHA) officials on Monday (June 9, 2025) discussed changes in the ground rules of the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement, the opening of national highways and surrender of weapons at a meeting with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, which was held after two years. At the meeting, the insurgent groups, in peace talks with the government since 2008, were conveyed about ground rules violations and were also asked to shut down or relocate camps close to the Meitei-inhabited areas. The ground rules of the SoO agreement are being reviewed by the MHA, and the next rounds of talks are expected next week to finalise the details for its implementation. A senior government official told The Hindu that the preliminary meeting discussed a road map for restoring normalcy in the northeastern State and finding a long-term solution. The official added that the opening of national highways for free movement of vehicles from Meitei areas and vice versa was emphasised upon. National Highways-2 and 37, which connect the land-locked Imphal valley to Nagaland and Assam respectively, critical for supply of essentials and other commodities, pass through Kuki-Zo inhabited areas. The talks, that were affected due to the May 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, were held in Delhi after a gap of two years. The insurgent groups reiterated their demand for a union territory with legislature for the Kuki-Zo people. A SoO representative said, 'The grounds for discussion should be spelt out clearly. An agreement for a political settlement should be part of the SoO extension. Most ground rules are likely to remain the same as 2008, but regarding relocation of camps, we will have to discuss with our constituents.' Also Read: The paradox of the approach to the Manipur issue Five members of the Kuki-Zo SoO groups held talks with A.K. Mishra, Adviser (Northeast), MHA and Intelligence Bureau officials on Monday (June 9, 2025). Looting of weapons 'A large number of police weapons were looted since the violence began. The groups were told to surrender weapons to bring long-lasting peace,' the official said. The agreement, in place since 2008, has been periodically extended each year except on February 29, 2024, when the Manipur Government pulled out from the tripartite pact; the MHA and SoO groups being the other two signatories. The representative added, 'The meeting focused on the way forward, it concluded on a positive note. Some of the camps that were set up in 2008 were inappropriately located; they have water scarcity and are in want of serious repair. The cadres have not been paid stipend for the past two years.' The representative added that the State government withdrew from the SoO pact after alleging ground rules violation. 'The ground rules are violated if our cadres attack the security forces. Post-May 3, 2023, the State police commandos at the behest of the State government were attacking our camps with mortars.' Around 2,200 cadres of the SoO groups comprising United People's Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) – umbrella organisations of 25 insurgent groups, live in 14 designated camps in the hill districts of Manipur. The cadres are entitled to a stipend of ₹6,000 per month which has not been paid since the violence erupted. The SoO agreement was signed in the wake of Kuki-Naga clashes in the 1990s when hundreds were killed. The insurgent groups demanded an independent land for the Kuki-Zo people. Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had claimed that SoO groups violated ground rules and instigated ethnic violence. The violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people, which erupted in the State on May 3, 2023, has claimed the lives of 250 people, displacing more than 60,000 people from their homes.
