Manipur violence: Kuki groups not to take part in dialogue without talks with rebel groups

This may anger the Meitei groups demanding abrogation of the SoO with the Kuki rebel groups.

Guwahati: In what may anger the Meiteis in conflict-torn Manipur, Kuki groups and MLAs representing the community on Friday decided that the Kuki organisations would not take part in dialogue with the government till resumption of "substantive political dialogue" with the Kuki rebel groups presently in Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement.

This was decided in a meeting attended by leaders of SoO groups, Kuki-Zo MLAs and the Kuki Zo Council (KZC), an apex body of the civil society organisations of the Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities. The meeting held at the Assam Agriculture University guest house in Guwahati, lasted for nearly six hours.

The meeting decided that the SoO groups would take lead in future talks to end the ongoing conflict.

"We will soon officially inform the Centre that from now on, the SoO groups will represent the Kuki-Zo communities in the talks," a Kuki leader, who attended the meeting, told DH. Six out of the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs attended the meeting.

So far, the KZC has taken lead in the talks including in the one in New Delhi on April 5, when the organisations representing the Kuki and the Meitei communities met for the first time since the beginning of the conflict in May 2023.

At least 25 rebel groups, under the banner of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) have been under the SoO with the government since 2008. More than 2,100 cadres have been staying in designated camps.

Anger of the Meiteis:

The move is likely to anger the Meitei groups, who have been demanding abrogation of the SoO agreement with the Kuki rebel groups and a crackdown before taking forward the talks. The Meiteis claim that the SoO groups are engaged in the conflict with the Meiteis. "Let them make their demand public, then we will respond. Our stand is clear, we will in no circumstance take part in talks with the insurgent groups," said a Meitei leader, who did not wish to be quoted.

New government:

The meeting also decided to place some conditions if the BJP or the Centre requests the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs to join the new government in Manipur. The leader, however, refused to share details of conditions. The stand is significant given reports about initiative by some BJP MLAs to form a new government.

Manipur has remained under President's Rule after N. Brien Singh resigned as CM in February. At least 21 MLAs wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah recently seeking formation of a new government. They claimed that no steps have been taken under the President's Rule to end the conflict.

More than 250 people have died in the conflict involving the Meitei and the Kukis that had erupted in May 2023.