MMTU urges Centre to terminate SoO agreement, cites gross violations by Kuki militants

The Manipur Meitei/Meetei Tribe Union (MMTU) has strongly urged the Central Government to immediately terminate the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed with Kuki militant groups, citing multiple violations of the ground rules by armed groups under the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF).
In a detailed statement, MMTU accused the signatory groups of turning the peace accord into a platform for expanding insurgent activity and drug-linked violence, instead of working towards peace. It alleged that since the violence that began on May 3, 2023, Kuki militants have openly recruited new cadres, amassed arms, and carried out coordinated attacks on the Meitei population in clear violation of the SoO ground rules.
The Union also questioned the legitimacy of the original agreement, stating that a foreign national, Seilen Haokip, leader of the KNO, had signed the SoO in 2005—an act it claimed would have been impossible if ground rules were strictly followed. It further warned that many of the SoO-designated camps are situated near Meitei villages, posing direct threats to civilian populations.
MMTU expressed concern over the establishment of parallel administrative structures in SoO-controlled areas, pointing to a recent demand for a separate governing model akin to Puducherry under Article 239-A. It argued that such developments amount to attempts at carving out a separate political entity within Manipur, undermining the state’s territorial integrity.
Drawing attention to large-scale illegal poppy cultivation in the hills, MMTU cited Intelligence Bureau (IB) reports indicating that over 50,000 hectares of forest land have been destroyed to grow poppy, generating illicit income estimated at over Rs. 40,000 crore annually. The group warned of a rising trend of narco-terrorism, likening the situation to regions like Mexico, Colombia, and Myanmar’s Golden Triangle. It also raised alarm over the demographic shifts resulting from unchecked cross-border migration from Myanmar.
The statement accused both the Central and State Governments of failing to act decisively despite the Manipur Legislative Assembly passing a resolution on February 29, 2024, urging the termination of the SoO agreement. It noted that the Central Government’s hesitation, possibly rooted in federal concerns, has emboldened the militant outfits and aggravated the crisis.
The MMTU further contended that the current state administration is failing to reflect the sentiments of the people of Manipur. It argued that in a functioning popular government, such breaches would have led to the immediate cancellation of the SoO accord. The group concluded by calling on the Central Government to act without delay and officially end the SoO arrangement, which it described as incompatible with peace, law, and constitutional order in Manipur.