Govt. Olive Branch to Militants
Cabinet to discuss modifications in ground rules:
Imphal, Apr 20: A cabinet meeting of the O Ibobi Singh-led Secular Progressive Front government will discuss the ground rules of suspension of operations (SoO) with militant outfits after an approval was given by the Union ministry of home affairs, an official source said on Sunday.
Currently, Central security forces engaged in counter insurgency operations in Manipur are maintaining SoO with many of the Kuki militant groups operating in the state.
The Union ministry of Home Affairs, mention may be made, has given approval for modifications to the draft ground rules proposed by the Manipur government which would govern the suspension of operations with Kuki militants in the first week of February this year.
However, actual implementation of the finalized ground rules has not yet commenced since the same requires final approval of the state Cabinet.
Currently, despite the Central paramilitary establishments deployed in the state like the Assam Rifles maintaining SoO with the Kuki militants since August 2005, the same is not officially recognized by the Manipur government till date.
The state government refused recognition because of the lack of official ground rules for the SoO and failure to involve the state government in the beginning which has made difficult implementation of the SoOs by the Central authority.
Among the outfits under SoO are the Kuki National Front (Samuel) group, KNF (S), United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), Zoumi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), Hmar People Convention (Defense), HPC (D), etc.
Others like the Kuki National Army (KNA), Kuki National Front (MC) and (Z), Hmar People Convention and United Socialists Revolutionary Army were not included in the list.
Mention may be made that the state government had suggested the inclusion of two particular conditions in the draft ground rules while intimating the draft ground rule to the MHA.
The conditions were that the underground groups undertaking the SoO should abide by the Constitution of India, the laws of the land and territorial integrity of Manipur, and that designated camps should not be located close to populated areas and national highways, or within 20 km from the international border, or the inter-state boundaries.
Official copies of the ground rules of SoO with Kuki undergrounds was communicated to the state home department by director MHA, North East-Division, AK Goyal during the month of January asking for revision of the ground rules framed by the Centre, a source disclosed.
The ground rules framed by the Centre says, among other things, that the UG groups will completely abjure the path of violence and will not engage in violent or unlawful activities like killing, injuries, kidnapping, ambush, extortions, intimidations, carrying of arms in public and imposing of tax or fines, and the security forces (Army, para-military forces and state police) will not launch operations against the group, as long as they abide by this agreement.
A Joint Monitoring Group headed by principal secretary, home, Manipur and with representatives of the Union ministry of home affairs and Central paramilitary organizations is proposed to be formed to monitor the implementation of the SoO. The JMG will meet once in a month.
It also said that cadres of the militant groups should stay in their designated camps which are to be located far away from populated areas or the national highways, and not within 20 km of the international border or inter-state boundaries.
While routine administration and protection of the camps will be in the hands of the groups, environment security of the camps will be provided by the state police and Central police organizations.
Movement of cadres from one designated camp to another will be for mutually agreed purposes and with prior approval of the nominated security forces/state police. Leaders/cadres from the group requiring moving frequently will be given different photo identity cadres by IGP (Intelligence), Manipur, the proposed ground rules stated.
Allowance at the rate of Rs. 2000 per month will be given to the cadres of the group who stay in the designated camps. In addition cadres will be provided vocational training of their choice at government expense.
Regarding weaponry of the underground groups, the draft ground rules also stated that all weapons should be kept within the camps’ central armoury, records of which will have to be made available to the police.
Militants should not indulge in blockade of roads and surface communication in general and undertake any activities which would disturb the functioning of local and state government and economic or development activities as well as essential services.
The group should not extend any support or assistance nor will it have any nexus with other militant groups or abet the formation of any new faction which is armed by such group.
In case, groups are found violating the ground rules repeatedly, the state government would be free to terminate the SoO arrangement and also take appropriate action including use of force against the group, it goes on to say.
The duration of the SoO as initially agreed upon was for a period of six months and can be extended by mutual agreement thereafter. Duration recommended is for one year.
The scheduled Cabinet meeting will also discuss other agendas like the promulgation of an ordinance called Manipur Autonomous Hills District Council Bill-2008 for the early conduct of the election to the district council election in the state and no-confidence motion in respect of Zila Parishad related with the retention of once elected chairperson for at least one year which was discussed in the latest Cabinet meeting and agreed to in principal.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, Apr 20: A cabinet meeting of the O Ibobi Singh-led Secular Progressive Front government will discuss the ground rules of suspension of operations (SoO) with militant outfits after an approval was given by the Union ministry of home affairs, an official source said on Sunday.
Currently, Central security forces engaged in counter insurgency operations in Manipur are maintaining SoO with many of the Kuki militant groups operating in the state.
The Union ministry of Home Affairs, mention may be made, has given approval for modifications to the draft ground rules proposed by the Manipur government which would govern the suspension of operations with Kuki militants in the first week of February this year.
However, actual implementation of the finalized ground rules has not yet commenced since the same requires final approval of the state Cabinet.
Currently, despite the Central paramilitary establishments deployed in the state like the Assam Rifles maintaining SoO with the Kuki militants since August 2005, the same is not officially recognized by the Manipur government till date.
The state government refused recognition because of the lack of official ground rules for the SoO and failure to involve the state government in the beginning which has made difficult implementation of the SoOs by the Central authority.
Among the outfits under SoO are the Kuki National Front (Samuel) group, KNF (S), United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), Zoumi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), Hmar People Convention (Defense), HPC (D), etc.
Others like the Kuki National Army (KNA), Kuki National Front (MC) and (Z), Hmar People Convention and United Socialists Revolutionary Army were not included in the list.
Mention may be made that the state government had suggested the inclusion of two particular conditions in the draft ground rules while intimating the draft ground rule to the MHA.
The conditions were that the underground groups undertaking the SoO should abide by the Constitution of India, the laws of the land and territorial integrity of Manipur, and that designated camps should not be located close to populated areas and national highways, or within 20 km from the international border, or the inter-state boundaries.
Official copies of the ground rules of SoO with Kuki undergrounds was communicated to the state home department by director MHA, North East-Division, AK Goyal during the month of January asking for revision of the ground rules framed by the Centre, a source disclosed.
The ground rules framed by the Centre says, among other things, that the UG groups will completely abjure the path of violence and will not engage in violent or unlawful activities like killing, injuries, kidnapping, ambush, extortions, intimidations, carrying of arms in public and imposing of tax or fines, and the security forces (Army, para-military forces and state police) will not launch operations against the group, as long as they abide by this agreement.
A Joint Monitoring Group headed by principal secretary, home, Manipur and with representatives of the Union ministry of home affairs and Central paramilitary organizations is proposed to be formed to monitor the implementation of the SoO. The JMG will meet once in a month.
It also said that cadres of the militant groups should stay in their designated camps which are to be located far away from populated areas or the national highways, and not within 20 km of the international border or inter-state boundaries.
While routine administration and protection of the camps will be in the hands of the groups, environment security of the camps will be provided by the state police and Central police organizations.
Movement of cadres from one designated camp to another will be for mutually agreed purposes and with prior approval of the nominated security forces/state police. Leaders/cadres from the group requiring moving frequently will be given different photo identity cadres by IGP (Intelligence), Manipur, the proposed ground rules stated.
Allowance at the rate of Rs. 2000 per month will be given to the cadres of the group who stay in the designated camps. In addition cadres will be provided vocational training of their choice at government expense.
Regarding weaponry of the underground groups, the draft ground rules also stated that all weapons should be kept within the camps’ central armoury, records of which will have to be made available to the police.
Militants should not indulge in blockade of roads and surface communication in general and undertake any activities which would disturb the functioning of local and state government and economic or development activities as well as essential services.
The group should not extend any support or assistance nor will it have any nexus with other militant groups or abet the formation of any new faction which is armed by such group.
In case, groups are found violating the ground rules repeatedly, the state government would be free to terminate the SoO arrangement and also take appropriate action including use of force against the group, it goes on to say.
The duration of the SoO as initially agreed upon was for a period of six months and can be extended by mutual agreement thereafter. Duration recommended is for one year.
The scheduled Cabinet meeting will also discuss other agendas like the promulgation of an ordinance called Manipur Autonomous Hills District Council Bill-2008 for the early conduct of the election to the district council election in the state and no-confidence motion in respect of Zila Parishad related with the retention of once elected chairperson for at least one year which was discussed in the latest Cabinet meeting and agreed to in principal.
Source: The Imphal Free Press