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Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Govt-Kuki talks heading towards free movement deal in Manipur
Government negotiations with Kuki militant groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with New Delhi are inching towards an agreement on allowing free movement of people and goods across Manipur — a crucial step towards re-establishing peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state, The Indian Express has learnt. Since the onset of ethnic violence in May 2023, Meiteis and Kukis have been geographically separated with the former confined to the Imphal Valley and the latter retreating to the hill areas. During the two-year-long violence, areas dominated by one community had become no-go zones for the other. Movement of goods, too, had been difficult. Following the imposition of President's Rule this February, free movement was among the first key announcements made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who set a deadline for March 8. However, opposition from Kuki groups and firing on a state transport bus plying from the Valley to the hills in Kangpokpi put the initiative on the backburner. According to sources, free movement in the state has been among the primary goals of the Centre, and a breakthrough may be achieved soon. 'The matter is under discussion with SoO groups. We are hopeful it (an agreement) will be achieved soon. The concerns of all sides are being addressed and SoO groups have indicated they are not entirely opposed to the idea. This will be a major breakthrough in re-establishing normalcy in the state. It is absolutely essential that people from the Valley are able to pass through the hills and those from the hills can come to the Imphal Valley,' a Home Ministry official said. Sources pointed to a conducive atmosphere for an agreement with a dip in violence since the imposition of President's Rule. The aggression displayed by groups on either side of the divide has mellowed, they said. An official pointed to the appeal by a Meitei group for safe passage to be provided to relatives of a Kuki who was among two women from Manipur killed in the Air India crash in Ahmedabad. Besides, the official said, Kukis did not disrupt the movement of Meitei civilians through their areas during the recent Shirui Lily festival. Sources said there has been a positive response from SoO groups during negotiations on pushing back their camps from the Valley's fringes — a longstanding demand of Meiteis. While many of the 14 SoO group camps are stationed in the interiors of the hill areas, some are located near the Valley. Meitei groups have alleged that these camps have been used to launch attacks in the Valley, a charge denied by Kukis. 'Various modalities are being discussed currently. One is shifting them back. The other is clubbing some smaller camps and bringing them together in a large camp,' a Ministry official said. Government sources said they do not expect opposition from Meitei groups on free movement since they were among those who 'suffered the most' after movement across the hills was restricted. 'For instance, today, a Meitei civilian can only fly out of Manipur since all roads across the hills are out of bounds. This has also disrupted the flow of goods into the Valley. When the Home Minister announced a deadline of March 8 for resuming free movement, Meitei groups had announced a march to the hills. This was seen as provocative by the Kukis at the time, leading to gunfire on the state transport bus in Kangpokpi, bringing the initiative to a halt,' they said. The Government, meanwhile, is also erecting camps for UNLF, one of the oldest militant groups in the Valley, following the peace deal sealed in November 2023. Sources said the Government is also preparing ID cards for UNLF cadres who will stay in these camps. 'The process is nearing completion and very soon they will be in the camps. This was part of the Government's efforts to gradually re-establish peace in the state and begin the process of talks with groups on either side of the divide,' sources said.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MHA persuades Kuki-Zo groups to relocate seven Suspension of Operations camps near Meitei-dominated areas
NEW DELHI: Officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a meeting with insurgent Kuki-Zo groups and persuaded them to relocate and shut down seven designated camps under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement that are located near Meitei-dominated areas, sources said. They added that the MHA officials also stressed the recovery of looted weapons and the reopening of National Highways. Notably, security agencies on the ground in Manipur had earlier proposed the closure of seven out of 14 existing camps situated close to Meitei-inhabited areas in the Valley, the sources said. A source familiar with the talks said, 'The second round of talks was held earlier this week, where the two sides reached an understanding on the closure and relocation of at least seven SoO camps located close to Meitei-populated zones.' He, however, clarified that there was no discussion on the extension of the SoO agreement, as the talks primarily focused on revising the ground rules, which is seen as a more immediate priority.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Govt, Kuki-Zo groups reach understanding to relocate camps to tribal areas
The Union home ministry and Manipur's Kuki-Zo insurgent groups have reached an understanding to relocate seven camps from near Meitei-dominated areas after a second round of talks on Monday under the 2008 Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement, an official said. The official said the extension of the pact was not discussed at the meeting focused on revising ground rules, which are seen as a more immediate priority. The locations of the new camps in tribal areas will be discussed at a third meeting to be scheduled. 'It has been agreed in principle that any relocated camps should be in tribal areas,' the official said. Representatives of the insurgent groups presented new proposals involving security arrangements. The ministry representatives emphasised the recovery of looted weapons and full restoration of the Imphal–Jiribam–Silchar and Dimapur–Imphal-Moreh highways, which have remained blocked since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023. 'Discussions on ground rules were held on Monday, and an agreement was reached on key changes, including closure of camps. Reopening highways was also a top priority,' said a second official. In 2008, 25 insurgent groups signed the tripartite agreement with the central and state governments. Around 2,200 of their members then resided in 14 designated camps across the hill districts of Manipur. Meiteis have opposed the pact. Former chief minister N Biren Singh, a Meitei, has blamed armed Kuki militants for involvement in the protracted conflict. Kuki leaders have accused Meitei groups, including Arambai Tenggol, of stoking the violence. On Monday, Manipur Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Michael Lamjathang Haokip wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the abrogation of the pact to restore peace in the state. The Manipur government withdrew from the tripartite SoO talks in February 2023, leaving the pact ineffective. Each member of the insurgent groups in camps set up under the SoO is entitled to a monthly ₹6,000 stipend, but payments have reportedly been suspended since violence broke out. The insurgent groups initially demanded an autonomous Kuki-Zo council within Manipur. They have since 2023 demanded a Union Territory with its a legislature BJP Rajya Sabha member Leishemba Sanajaoba questioned the rationale of the pact. 'What was the point of signing such a pact with these groups when they neither revolted against the state nor the Union governments at that time?' he asked on Facebook. He wrote that the pact was signed during the Congress rule with two Kuki-Zo umbrella insurgent groups, which originally demanded autonomy. 'Such grave missteps of the previous government led to this chaotic situation in the state.' The fresh talks on the pact come amid protracted violence between Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur, which has since May 2023 and has left around 250 people dead and thousands displaced. Meiteis live largely in the plains of the Imphal valley, and the Kukis in the hills. They have since 2023 withdrawn to their respective strongholds and set up road blockades on highways to restrict each other's and the movement of essential items between their strongholds.
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Kuki rebel groups to close seven camps near Meitei-dominated areas in Manipur
The meeting held in New Delhi, however, remained short of reaching an agreement on resumption of communication on two national highways passing through Kuki areas and extension of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with the rebel groups.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kuki-Zo groups and MHA reach an understanding on closure of 7 camps close to Meitei areas, says govt. official
Kuki-Zo insurgent groups and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials, in a meeting on Monday (June 16, 2025), reached an understanding on the relocation and closure of certain camps run by the groups in Manipur, a senior government official said. The MHA stressed on recovery of looted weapons and the opening of the national highways, the official added. Security agencies have proposed the closure of seven out of 14 existing camps, which are located close to Meitei-populated areas in the foothills. The insurgent groups in the Suspensions of Operations (SoO) pact with the government resumed talks with the MHA on June 9, after a gap of two years. The official said that no deadline was fixed for the extension of the SoO pact with the Kuki-Zo groups as it depended on adherence to ground rules and other conditions. The pact became ineffective on February 29, 2024, when the Manipur government pulled out from the tripartite agreement, MHA and SoO groups being the other two signatories. After ethnic violence between the Kuki-Zo and Meitei people erupted in the State on May 3, 2023, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and several Meitei groups accused the armed insurgent groups of instigating the violence. 'Discussions on ground rules were held on Monday, and an agreement has been reached on certain key changes, which include closure of camps. Making highways fully operational was also stressed upon,' said the government official. National Highways 2 and 37, which connect the land-locked Meitei-dominated Imphal valley to Nagaland and Assam, respectively, are critical for the supply of essentials and other commodities, pass through Kuki-Zo inhabited areas. The official said that the next round of talks would be held after 15 days. Changing terms An SoO representative said that since the demands from pre-May 3, 2023, had changed, there was a need to revisit the ground rules of the SoO pact. 'We have also proposed certain plans to the MHA, which involve the security forces. The closure of camps is under discussion. When we signed the pact in 2008, a drill was followed to finalise the ground rules; the same process is being followed now,' the representative said. 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 the Kuki-Naga clashes in the 1990s, when hundreds were killed. The insurgent groups demanded an independent land for the Kuki-Zo people. Earlier, the groups had demanded autonomy for Kuki-Zo councils in Manipur. Post-May 2023, they have been demanding a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly for the Kuki-Zo areas.
