Kuki-Zo groups agree to renew suspension of ops, open key NH

Guwahati/New Delhi: Days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to visit Manipur, two key peace deals — one with the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) for opening the arterial Imphal-Dimapur National Highway-2 for the movement of commuters and goods, and the second with two Kuki umbrella militant outfits for renewal of the suspension of operations (SoO), while maintaining the territorial integrity of Manipur — have been finalised.A meeting among the representatives of ministry of home affairs (MHA), Govt. of Manipur, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) here on Thursday led to the signing of a tripartite SoO among them. Though the SoO was in force since 2008, it could not be renewed after Feb 2024 due to the ongoing ethnic tension. The latest, year-long extension of SoO comes with renegotiated terms — KNO and UPF have agreed to the relocation of seven designated camps to less vulnerable areas; reduction in number of camps; relocation of weapons with the nearest CRPF or BSF camps; physical verification of cadres to delist foreign nationals; and payment of ‘remuneration’ to cadres via direct benefit transfer (DBT).A joint monitoring group will closely watch the enforcement of ground rules, and violations dealt with firmly, said MHA.Importantly, the tripartite agreement inked on Thursday hints at the start of a tripartite, political dialogue with KNO and UPF to pave the way for “a negotiated political settlement under the Constitution of India, in a time-bound manner”.The revised ground rules for SoO endorse the need to work on a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to the state.

“KNO and UPF as well as their constituents shall completely abjure the path of violence and abide by the Constitution of India. laws of the land, and territorial integrity of Manipur,” the SoO agreement states.Experts described the peace pacts as a “milestone” in efforts to establish peace in Manipur. A reaffirmation of the state’s territorial integrity signals a retreat from their demand for a separate administration, said officials.

However, the Kuki Zo Council, in a clarification issued later, said it hopes for “a political dialogue for a ‘separate administration’ under the Constitution of India”.The MHA statement on Thursday said talks between its senior officials and Kuki-Zo Council led the latter to decide on opening NH-2 for unrestricted movement of human and goods traffic. KZC has given a commitment to cooperate with the security forces deployed by the government of India, to maintain peace along NH-2.However KZC later clarified that NH-2 was never closed or blocked, and that its appeal was confined to urging the people of Kangpokpi to extend cooperation to the central forces to ensure safety along the highway. “It must not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of unrestricted or free movement across the buffer zones,” it stated. Sources in the Manipur govt said the central forces will remain deployed in adequate numbers in the buffer zones.A senior IPS officer told TOI that it may take some time before the ethnic tensions are sorted and all, including, Meiteis are able to move freely in buffer zones.Over 260 persons have died and more than 60,000 displaced since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur in May 2023.