Context: Recently, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Manipur state government signed a revised Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with 24 Kuki-Zo insurgent groups under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF).
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims & Mains: Key features of Peace Pact between Centre, Manipur Government and Kuki-Zo Groups.
Suspension of Operations (SoO) Pact
- The SoO pact was first signed in 2008 after the violent Kuki-Naga clashes of the 1990s.
- Under the original pact, around 2200 cadres of KNO and UPF were moved into designated camps, received a stipend of ₹6,000/month, and agreed to suspend operations against the State and Union forces.
- The pact was extended annually until February 29, 2024, when the Manipur Government refused renewal of the pact citing violations of ground rules and accusing SoO groups of instigating the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur.
Key Provisions of the 2025 Revised SoO Pact
- Verification of cadres will be carried out by security forces, and a complete list of cadres with name, date of birth, Aadhaar, and latest photographs will be prepared by the Government.
- Foreign nationals (particularly from Myanmar’s Chin-Kuki community) if found among the cadres will be removed from the list and deported.
- The number of designated camps will be reduced from 14 to 12 (6 for KNO and 6 for UPF), and these camps will not be located near highways, populated areas, conflict-prone zones, the Myanmar border, or inter-state boundaries.
- Weapons belonging to cadres will be stored in the nearest CRPF or BSF camps rather than in the insurgent-run camps.
- Stipends for cadres will resume but will only be paid through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts and only for those physically present in the camps during inspections.
- The Manipur Police will issue photo identity cards to all cadres to facilitate proper monitoring.
- The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has agreed to open National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) a critical supply route for the Imphal Valley for free movement of commuters and goods.
- A Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) headed by the Principal Secretary (Home) of Manipur will monitor implementation, conduct physical verification, and deal firmly with violations.
- The pact mandates that KNO and UPF must abjure violence, abide by the Constitution of India and the territorial integrity of Manipur, and not maintain links with other armed groups.
- The agreement bars insurgent groups from recruiting new cadres, carrying out offensive operations, or associating with domestic or foreign armed groups.
- The Army, Assam Rifles, CAPFs, and State Police will not launch operations against these groups as long as they abide by the pact.
- The pact provides for a tripartite political dialogue among the Centre, Manipur Government, and KNO/UPF to work towards a negotiated political settlement within the Constitution of India.
Significance:
- The pact represents a renewed attempt at peace-building after the collapse of the agreement in 2024.
- It reaffirms the territorial integrity of Manipur, addressing concerns of the Meitei community.
- It acknowledges the Kuki-Zo demand for a political settlement, but strictly within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
- The opening of NH-2 restores the economic lifeline and ensures supply of essential commodities to the Imphal Valley.
- The relocation of camps away from sensitive areas reduces the possibility of renewed violence and enhances civilian security.
Challenges:
- Trust deficit remains between communities: Meiteis accuse Kuki groups of fuelling the 2023 violence, while Kukis distrust the State Government.
- The phrase “negotiated political settlement within the Constitution of India” is ambiguous and may be interpreted differently by the parties.
- Implementation difficulties exist in verifying cadres, relocating camps, and deporting foreign nationals from Myanmar.
- The temporary nature of the pact (valid for one year) means long-term peace remains uncertain.
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), one of the largest Meitei civil society groups in Manipur, has rejected the signing of Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the Kuki-Zo insurgent groups.
Also Read: What Manipur Needs?