In response to the Manipur Legislative Assembly’s recent resolution seeking the abrogation of the Tripartite Agreement for Suspension of Operations with Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF), Kuki MLAs have voiced strong dissent, citing prejudice and bias against their community.
A joint statement issued by the 10 Kuki MLAs said the resolution was one sided, emanating from prejudice, bias and hatred for Kuki community that reflects a myopic view on the issue.
The resolution, passed on February 29th, by the Manipur Legislative Assembly attributes responsibility to the SoO Groups for the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, a move vehemently opposed by the Kuki representatives.
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The Tripartite Agreement, initially signed on August 22, 2008, and periodically renewed, established clear Ground Rules, including the formation of a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) comprising of Central agencies, State Government agencies and the KNO & UPF representatives to oversee adherence. However, the MLAs question whether the resolution adopted by the august House was based on any report or observations of the JMG, which is the only official mechanism to determine whether any violation of the Ground Rules have taken place or not. This obviously is not the case as the resolution is based on an overwhelming sense of animosity and hatred for a particular community.
Highlighting the Agreement’s role in significantly reducing violence since its inception, the MLAs argue that recent unrest cannot solely be attributed to the SoO Groups, pointing to valley based militant factions involved in recent violence. They assert that the resolution unfairly targets the KNO and UPF, exacerbating tensions and alienating the Kuki community.
The Tripartite Agreement was lauded as the harbinger of peace and security in the state when it was signed in 2008, and truly so Manipur particularly the Hill Districts have witnessed a sea change in the security scenario as the level of violence came down drastically in the years that followed.
The statement continued that successive governments have been taking their share of credit over improvement in the law and order situation in the state owing to signing of the Tripartite Agreement.
“The recent signing of a Peace Accord with an UNLF Faction was initiated by the State Government, and the role played by this outfit during this short period in the current violence is widely known to one and all. The august House resolution would have evinced fairness and peace objective if the role played by the valley based outfit cited above too was highlighted as it is a clear case for seeking termination of the pact too.”
This resolution was adopted to defame the KNO and UPF and further alienate the Kuki community as part of the continuing hate campaign, it alleged.
The MLAs urge the Home Ministry, Government of India, to impartially consider all aspects of the issue to prevent further discrimination and alienation of the Kuki people, emphasizing the need for a fair and just approach to address the complexities of the situation.
