IT News
Imphal, Mar 1:
Ten Kuki-Zo lawmakers, including seven from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have expressed strong opposition to a resolution passed by the Manipur assembly urging the Union government to terminate a Suspension of Operations (SOO) pact with militant outfits. They have deemed the resolution one-sided and biased against their community. The assembly adopted the resolution on Thursday, citing alleged violations of the agreement by Kuki militant outfits.
These 10 legislators have been advocating for a separate administration for the Kuki community since ethnic violence erupted between Meiteis and tribal Kukis in May last year. They were notably absent from the assembly during the discussion and adoption of the resolution.
In a statement, the lawmakers, referred to as Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs, condemned and expressed their dissent towards what they see as a prejudiced and biased resolution. They view it as reflective of a narrow perspective on the issue and driven by animosity and hatred towards their community.
The agreement, signed by 25 Kuki militant groups, including 17 under the umbrella group Kuki National Organisation, in August 2008, has been periodically renewed. With the pact expiring on Thursday, Meitei lawmakers passed the resolution, blaming Kuki outfits for the violence in the state since May last year, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of 219 people and displaced over 50,000 others.
The Kuki-Zo legislators questioned whether the resolution was based on any reports or observations of a Joint Monitoring Group, which includes Central agencies and serves as the official mechanism to determine violations. They asserted that this was not the case, suggesting that the resolution was driven by animosity towards their community.
The lawmakers credited the pact for bringing peace to Kuki-dominated hill districts and blamed the Meitei group United National Liberation Front, which signed a peace deal with the Union government in December, for the violence. They believe the resolution aims to further alienate their community as part of a continuing campaign of hate.
The legislators have appealed to the Union Home Ministry to impartially consider all aspects of the issue to prevent further discrimination and alienation of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar people.
