Do not extend SoO : MMTU

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 13 :  The Meetei (Meitei) Tribe Union has urged the Government of India to not extend the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement, alleging violation of the ground rules.
SoO pact is a tripartite agreement between the Government (State and Centre) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF) - umbrella organizations composed of various Kuki militant groups.
The Union, in a statement issued by its organisation secretary Takhellambam Parijat,   continued that no SoO talks should be conducted without the involvement of the State Government which is currently under suspended animation following the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur on February 13, 2025.
Saying that the Central Government should uphold the federal structure of the country by endorsing the resolution taken by the Manipur Legislative Assembly in February last year to not revoke the SoO agreement, the Union alleged that Kuki militant groups have been engaging in terrorism by violating the ground rules of the pact on multiple occasions.
SoO agreement was initially signed in 2005 between Kuki militant organizations and the Indian Army, with the Centre and State becoming parties in 2008, it said and wondered how an alleged Myanmar National Seilen Haokip signed the agreement representing KNO.
The Union also questioned the motive behind the establishment of Kuki militant camps in surrounding areas of Meetei villages. Some key ground rules of the pact were to uphold the Constitution and respect the territorial integrity of Manipur, it said and added that Kuki militant groups, however, started recruiting cadres, procuring arms and ammunition, and attacking Meetei villages following the May 3, 2023, incident, in total contravention of the SoO pact.
Kuki militant groups, which agreed to respect the territorial integrity of Manipur, are demanding disintegration of Manipur by seeking a Union Territory with a legislature, violating the SoO pact and fuelling unrest in the State, the Union charged.
Further claiming that poppy plantation and deforestation became rampant in some hill districts after the signing of the SoO agreement in 2005, it added that over 50,000 hectares of forest have been cleared for poppy plantation as per Intelligence report. This poppy plantation generates over Rs 40,000 crore annually, the Union alleged, adding that the narco-terrorists also facilitate illegal immigration to bring about a demographic change in the State and start a population war.
The Union urged the President's Rule Government to understand the gravity of the situation as well as the sentiment of the people and not extend the SoO pact in the absence of a popular Government in the State.