IMPHAL, June 7: The Meitei Alliance, a global coalition of civil society organizations representing the Meitei community, has called on the Indian government to scrap the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed with Kuki insurgent groups. The alliance claims that the insurgents have exploited the agreement for criminal activities such as terrorism, extortion, and other illicit operations, thereby exacerbating the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Meitei Alliance detailed a range of serious allegations, emphasizing that the Kuki insurgents have used the SoO agreement as a cover for their violent activities since its inception in 2008. The group accuses these armed factions of repeatedly violating the ground rules of the agreement, engaging in terrorism, and committing serious violations, including extortion and illegal “highway taxes.”
“The armed groups, which have been the primary instigators and escalators of violence in Manipur since May 3, 2023, have used the SoO agreement as a shield for their vested interests,” the Meitei Alliance said in a statement. The group claims that the insurgents’ role in escalating the violence has been direct and highly damaging to the region’s peace and stability.
The Meitei Alliance also highlights how these groups have been involved in the recruitment of militants, further destabilizing the region. It alleges a close nexus between Kuki insurgents and other armed groups in Myanmar, claiming that these alliances have fueled cross-border insurgency activities. Additionally, the Meitei community claims that the groups under the SoO agreement have been encouraging illegal immigration from Myanmar, which has significantly impacted Manipur’s demographic and ecological balance.
The Meitei Alliance pointed out the particularly troubling developments since May 3, 2023, when ethnic unrest erupted in the state. They argue that Kuki insurgent groups, which had previously signed the SoO to suspend hostilities with the government, have taken advantage of the agreement to pursue their own violent agendas, further intensifying the conflict.
In February 2024, the Manipur Assembly passed a unanimous resolution urging the Centre to scrap the SoO agreement, citing its failure to bring peace and its apparent misuse by insurgent groups. The resolution was passed on February 20, 2024, the same day the deadline for the extension of the agreement expired.
The Meitei Alliance’s letter to the Centre also referenced broader concerns, including the illicit recruitment of insurgents, involvement in narcotics trafficking, and arms smuggling, all of which it claims have been enabled by the SoO agreement. The Alliance contends that the agreement, instead of providing a pathway to peace, has inadvertently allowed insurgent groups to strengthen their positions and perpetuate violence.
“We call on the Government of India to permanently terminate the SoO agreement, which has allowed these militant groups to carry out terrorism under the guise of a ceasefire,” the Meitei Alliance urged. The group also warned that continuing the agreement would amount to legitimizing violence and impunity, thus deepening the instability in Manipur.
