When we talk about Kuki militancy in Manipur, the question as to whether the SoO agreement is still operative or not comes to mind, as the life of the agreement had lapsed on February 29 this year. A report in “The Hindu’ said the ‘status quo’ still exists on the ground. The same report said that representatives of the Manipur government did not turn up at the February 29 meeting specially called for extension of the agreement.
However, the ambiguity of the term ‘status quo’ in the context of the SoO agreement remains. Officially, the agreement had actually lapsed while the central government is yet to issue any notification either revoking the operation or continuance of the agreement as such. The SoO agreement was first signed between the Assam Rifles and some Kuki militant groups in 2005. Former CM O Ibobi Singh and leader of the Congress party had admitted in the assembly that it was done without the knowledge of the Manipur government and state forces continued to arrest the militants.
In 2008, Manipur government was also brought in and thereafter a tripartite pact was signed by the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an umbrella of 24 insurgent groups, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Manipur government. The annual extension of the pact lapses on February 29. When clashes broke out in May 2023, a cry for abrogation of SoO came out in the valley as suspected Kuki militants began attacking the fringe villages of the valley.
Despite denials of involvement of Kuki militant groups under SoO in the attacks on the fringe villages of the valley, a physical verification of SoO designated camps somehow confirmed the allegations. During the physical verification drive at the various designated camps of militant groups under SoO security officials admitted that they indeed found most of the cadres and arms missing from the camps.
For some time, the ruling establishment delved in political mud-slinging by alleging that it was the Congress government then which signed the SoO agreement and continued taking part in yearly extension. They however did not mention the fact that the BJP led government which came in 2017 was also a part of the yearly extension of the agreement.
Earlier on March 10,2023 the Manipur government decided to withdraw from the SoO agreement with two militant groups, Kuki National Army (KNA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) out of the several groups, alleging their involvement in poppy cultivation and inciting people against forest officials. It was rumoured that the security establishment and Union Home ministry were not amused with the unilateral move. Then, clashes broke out in May 2023. Owing to public pressure, the Manipur Assembly on February 29, 2024 passed a resolution to urge the Union Government to abrogate the suspension of operations (SoO) pact with Kuki-Zo insurgent groups.
Now, let us go about how Kuki militancy began in the state. During the Naga-Kuki clashes in the 90s, Kuki village volunteers began to organise themselves against the Naga Lim Guard in various areas and loose organisation named Kuki Defence Force (KDF) came up, but without any kind of central authority. After the said clashes, the Kuki National Front (KNF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO/KNA) was born. While the KNF expressed its aspirations of a Kuki territory within the Constitution, KNO/KNA said that their rebellion was against the Myanmar junta then.
Then, some powerful Kuki politicians began to use area factions of these groups as a means of political control and election agents. The fever spread and more than 30 groups and factions with separate areas of influence came into being as new politicians joined the game.
Although, these groups and factions became a nuisance in the highways and other areas, central agencies saw an opportunity in harnessing these elements for checking the writ of NSCN (IM) and various Meitei insurgent groups within the country boundaries and also beyond. Thus, the concept of SoO was born and that led to giving legitimacy to various groups and factions which once served the vested interests of a few Kuki politicians. ZRA and other Zo militant groups came later on.
