FNCC demands dismantling of SoO camps and abrogation of agreement with Kuki militants

The Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) has submitted a detailed memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through the Governor of Manipur, raising strong objections to the continued presence and proposed relocation of Suspension of Operations (SoO) camps belonging to Kuki militant groups in and around Naga ancestral territories. The committee expressed deep concern that the existence of these camps, as well as the SoO agreement itself, poses a serious threat to communal harmony, constitutional order, and national security in the state.
The FNCC maintained that no SoO camps, whether existing or proposed, should be allowed within Naga-inhabited areas without the knowledge and informed consent of the Naga people. They specifically mentioned the regions of Kharam Vaiphei and Kotlen as part of historically and culturally significant Naga territories. The committee warned that any attempt to establish camps in these areas would be seen as an act of provocation and aggression, likely to incite communal unrest with consequences that could exceed the violence of May 3, 2023.
Tracing the origins of the SoO agreement, the FNCC noted that it began as a bilateral arrangement on August 1, 2005, and was later formalized into a tripartite agreement in 2008 between the Government of India, the Government of Manipur, and Kuki militant groups, including the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF).

According to the committee, the agreement has failed to meet its intended objectives and instead has empowered militant groups to commit widespread violence and criminal activities with impunity.
The FNCC accused Kuki militants of repeatedly violating the terms of the SoO agreement, citing numerous incidents of violence, including kidnappings, arson, assaults, land encroachment, extortion, and attacks on civilians. These incidents, which have occurred between March 2023 and July 2025, were described as part of a calculated effort to carry out territorial aggression, ethnic domination, and demographic manipulation. The committee claimed that the SoO camps have evolved into operational hubs for militant expansion, intimidation, and illegal activities such as poppy cultivation, especially in Naga areas like Makhan and Leikhampokpi.
Despite these well-documented violations, the FNCC lamented that the SoO agreement continues to be renewed annually without accountability, raising serious doubts about the intent behind the process. The group criticized the state and central governments for what it called dangerous appeasement policies that have only emboldened lawlessness and eroded public trust in democratic governance.
In its memorandum, the FNCC urged the Prime Minister and the Government of India to take firm and immediate action. The committee called for the dismantling of all SoO camps located in or near Naga-inhabited areas and the permanent abrogation of the SoO agreement with Kuki militant groups. It also demanded a halt to the construction of the so-called “German” and “Tiger” roads, which they alleged glorify criminal elements and infringe upon Naga territorial rights. Additionally, the FNCC asked for the constitution of a high-level inquiry commission to investigate all violations under the SoO framework and ensure timely legal action against the offenders. The committee firmly stated that any proposed Separate Administration for Kukis must not include even an inch of Naga ancestral land.
Reaffirming their commitment to peace and justice, the FNCC concluded that while the Naga people have consistently upheld the values of coexistence, they will not allow their land, dignity, and security to be compromised. The memorandum was described as a call for justice, for the restoration of constitutional order, and for the protection of a people who have endured far too long in silence.