Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact
Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact is a tripartite agreement signed between the Centre , Manipur government and 25 Kuki militant groups operating in the northeastern states of Manipur and Nagaland with the primary objective of initiating a peace dialogue. Under the agreement, the Kuki militant groups agreed to stop carrying out violent activities and return to designated camps to be monitored by security forces. And also, the Indian government will halt all its operations against the Kuki militants.
There are 30 Kuki militant groups in Manipur, of which 25 participated in tripartite SoO with theGovernment of India and the state.
Nearly 17 come under the Umbrella group Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and 8 belong to the United People’s Front (UPF).
Initially The Kuki outfits were demanding a separate Kuki state but now accepted a Kukiland territorial council.
The Kuki people:
Kukis belong to an ethnic group native to the Mizo Hills a mountainous region in the southeastern Mizoram and Manipur states.
- In the Northeastern states, they are found in all states except Arunachal and nearly 50 tribes of Kuki tribes come under ST classification.
- The Chins of Myanmar and the Mizos of Mizoram are related to the Kukis and are together called the Zo people.
What is Kuki Insurgency?
The Kuki insurgency started after ethnic clashes with the Nagas of Manipurin the 1990s, with the Kukis turning into militants against Naga threats.
The major reason for clashes is the land claimed by the Kukis as their “homeland” in the Manipur hills overlaps with the claims made by Naga homeland of Greater Nagaland or Nagalim.
What is the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA)?
The ZRA is an armed militant group active in the state of Manipur. The group was founded in 1996 aiming at securing greater autonomy for the Zomis, an indigenous community living in Manipur.
The ZRA is a faction of the Zomi Nationalist Movement (ZNM), which was active during the 1980s,90s. In 2008, ZRA along with KNA entered SoO agreement with Government of India and Manipur
The terms of the SoO pact:
- Duration and extension: The duration of Suspension of Operation agreement is one year, but also extendable according to the progress of its implementation.
- To monitor its proper implementation, a committee known as Joint Monitoring Group (JMG), with members from all the signatories, has been formed.
- Operational restraints: According to the pact, the Centre and state governments agreed that thesecurity forces would not launch any operations against these groups. For that, the insurgent groups will not start any such operation.
- Upholding National integrity: The pact also requires these groups toabide by the Constitution of India, the laws of the landand the territorial integrity of Manipur.
- The SoO pact prohibits these groups from indulging in any activity that amounts toatrocity or extortion, or other unlawful activities.
- Camps and arms management: The militants should stay in designated camps identified by the Government. Arms should be keptin a safe room using a double-locking system. The groups are provided arms only to protect their camps and their leaders.
- Rehabilitation assistance: The cadres living in the designated camps are given a monthly stipend of 6000 Rs. Financial support is also given to maintain the government designated camps
Demand for suspension of the pact:
Since ethnic violence erupted between the Kuki-Zo peopleand the Meitei peopleerupted in Manipur in May, 2023, there were strong demands from the Valley regions to denounce the SoO agreement. The Manipurgovernmenthad stated that SoO groups disrespected ground rules and were involved in violence.
Meitei civil groups have reported that the home affairs ministry did not extend the pact. The Meitiei faction, citing the influx of illegal migrants from Myanmar, demanded for revocation of the SoO pact. Their worry is further fuelled by the Narco money flowing into Manipur that are mainly utilised by the Militant groups to fund their unlawful activities. The Manipur state Assembly has passed a resolution to demand the Central government tonullify the SoO pact with Kuki-Zo militant groups.
On the other hand, The Kuki faction wants the SoO pact to be invoked again to ensure peace and they claim that recent violence was aimed at disrupting peace talks between SoO groups and the central government. They allege that the Meiteis attacked them, expelled them from Imphal and nearby valley areas, and attempted to forcibly occupy Kuki villages.
What next?
- The revocation of the SoO agreement has now increased questions about the government’s planto resolve the issue earliest.
- If ignored, the militants may once again start insurgency activities threatening the internal security of a strategically located region.
