IMPHAL, July 3: Four civil society organisations have jointly urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to immediately abrogate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements with Kuki armed groups, accusing them of repeatedly violating ground rules and fueling the ongoing violence in Manipur.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Forum Manipur, Thadou Inpi Manipur, Meitei Alliance, and the Foothills Naga Co-ordinating Committee submitted a detailed memorandum to the Home Minister on Thursday. The document outlines multiple grievances and demands, including the termination of the SoO pacts with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF), originally signed as bilateral agreements in 2005 and converted into tripartite agreements in 2008 involving the Centre and the Manipur government.

“These groups triggered the May 3, 2023 violence in Churachandpur and were responsible for the subsequent arson attacks in Torbung and Kanvai,” the memorandum stated. It alleged that signatory groups have failed to adhere to core clauses of the SoO agreements, which mandate the renunciation of violence, extortion, illegal arms possession, and kidnappings.

The civil organisations also raised serious concerns over the role of the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG), which includes representatives from the very militant groups accused of violating the agreements. “Allowing the accused to police themselves has created a mockery of the monitoring process,” they said.

The memorandum reminded the Home Ministry that the Manipur government had already abrogated SoO with the Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) in March 2023 and again recommended against renewal in January 2024. “Unless recommended by an elected state government, such agreements should not be extended,” the civil bodies insisted.

To restore lasting peace and order, the groups made a series of recommendations:

• Immediate abrogation of the SoO agreements as per the decision of the last elected Manipur government.
• Restoration of an elected state government to ensure legitimate oversight of such agreements.
• A comprehensive review and restructuring of the SoO framework.
• Appointment of an independent and neutral arbitrator to resolve conflicts.
• Prosecution of militant elements involved in violence, and exclusion of such individuals from SoO protections.

“The SoO Agreement should be considered as a mechanism for non-violence and not as protector of violence.”