Manipur Civil Groups Demand Termination of Controversial SoO Agreement

Four civil society organizations in Manipur have urged the Indian government to terminate the Suspension of Operations agreement with militant groups, citing compromises to community safety and security. The groups assert that the agreement has allowed militancy to flourish and demand comprehensive reviews or prosecutions.

In a significant move, four civil society organizations from Manipur made a strong appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking the cancellation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with militant factions. They argue that this agreement endangers community safety and security.

Representatives from the Meitei Alliance, Thadou Inpi Manipur, Foothills Naga Coordination Committee, and the Indigenous Peoples' Forum Manipur presented a memorandum emphasizing the consistent violation of SoO ground rules by armed factions, which intensified violence on May 3, 2023, in Manipur.

The organizations have called for a thorough review of the agreement's structure and implementation, highlighting the need for legal actions against those guilty of violence. If any Kuki National Organisation or United People's Front members are implicated, they should not benefit from the agreement's protections, they insisted.