Kukis agree to free movement in a big breakthrough

THE KUKI civil society groups have agreed to allow free movement in Manipur, in a big breakthrough in talks with the Centre. Separately, the government reached an agreement with Kuki militant groups to continue with the Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact, but under some new terms.
The existing SoO agreement between the Centre and Kukis lapsed in February 2024, amidst the ethnic violence in the state.
Free movement kicking in is a significant development – particularly as it comes days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manipur, his first-ever to the state since the start of the Meitei-Kuki conflict in May 2023. Modi is scheduled to visit Manipur on September 13.
“In a significant decision, the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has decided today to open the National Highway-02 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods. The decision came after a series of meetings between officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a delegation of KZC in the last few days at New Delhi. The KZC has given commitment to cooperate with the security forces deployed… to maintain peace along NH-02,” a statement by the MHA said.
On the SoO agreement, the statement said, “Side by side, a tripartite meeting among representatives of the MHA, government of Manipur, and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) was also held at New Delhi today. The meeting concluded with the signing of a tripartite Suspension of Operations Agreement on re-negotiated terms and conditions (ground rules), to be effective from the day of signing of the agreement, for a period of one year.”
According to the MHA, the revised ground rules in the agreement include honouring the territorial integrity of Manipur (some sections of the Kukis have been seeking a separate administrative zone) and working for a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to Manipur.
The MHA said the KNO and UPF had agreed to relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict, to reduce the number of designated camps, to deposit their weapons at the nearest CRPF/BSF camps, and to submit their cadres to stringent physical verification to de-list foreign nationals, if any.
“A Joint Monitoring Group will henceforth closely monitor enforcement of the ground rules, and violations will be dealt with firmly… including review of the SoO Agreement,” the MHA statement said.
Following the agreement with the Centre, the KZC issued an appeal to the people in Kangpokpi, through which the NH-02 runs and which is one of the key routes to enter or exit the state, to cooperate with security forces deployed by the Centre.
Noting that the MHA had expressed “serious concern” about the safety of commuters travelling on the highway through Kangpokpi district, the KZC said: “The Kuki-Zo Council would like to request MHA to deploy Central security forces to ensure safety of commuters and transportation of essential commodities along NH-02… The Kuki-Zo Council appeals to the public in Kangpokpi district to cooperate with the security forces.”
This stretch of NH-02 is particularly sensitive, and had witnessed violence on March 8 when the Central government first tried to enforce free movement through the state’s highways following the imposition of President’s rule in February. One person had died and many others were injured when they clashed with security forces escorting a Manipur State Transport bus travelling from the state to Naga-majority Senapati via Kangpokpi.

Talks on since June

As reported by The Indian Express, the Kuki militant groups and government have been engaged in talks since June this year to renegotiate the terms of the SoO agreement.
Among the main goals was reaching an agreement on free movement of people and goods across the Valley and hills in Manipur – seen as the most crucial step towards re-establishing peace in the strife-torn state, where the movement of goods and people between areas dominated by the Meiteis and Kukis respectively has been virtually impossible.
Another key item on the agenda of the talks was pushing SoO Group camps from the fringes of the Valley into the hills – a long-standing demand of the Meiteis. Currently there are 14 SoO group camps in Manipur. While many are stationed in the interior of the hills, some are in the areas where the hills meet the Valley. Meitei groups have alleged that these camps have been used to launch attacks in the Valley, a charge denied by the Kukis.
Other terms included proper identification of cadres where SoO groups would be required to issue certificates to their cadres. Sources said to regulate movement of cadres outside camps, the terms stipulate that they must inform the local police station before moving out.
Crucially, this is happening parallelly with the government erecting camps for Valley-based insurgent group UNLF (United National Liberation Front). In November 2023, the government had signed a peace agreement with the UNLF, one of the oldest militant groups in the Valley. Sources said the government is also preparing ID cards of the UNLF cadres who will be staying in these camps. They indicated the process is nearing completion.

— With Sukrita Baruah in Guwahati