Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Kuki SoO talks held at New Delhi

By : A Staff Reporter 5/21/2008 2:15:15 AM

IMPHAL, May 20: The tripartite talks between representatives of the Union ministry of home affairs, Manipur government and Kuki militants were held yesterday at New Delhi and the ground rules for the Suspension of Operation, SoO discussed point by point, a source in Imphal said today.

In the talks which were held at a hotel initiated by the Union ministry of home affairs, state DGP Y Joykumar and inspector general of police (intelligence), LM Khoute represented the Manipur government.

Suspension of operation, SoO agreement between the army and constituents of the UPF and KNO has been in force since August 1, 2005.

Later, it was agreed between the government of India, government of Manipur and Kuki organizations to formalize these SoO and enter into cessation of hostilities which would be effected after an agreement on the ground rules prepared by the Manipur government is approved by the three sides.

Even though the outfits involved in the talks have agreed to the draft revised ground rules of suspension of operations finalised on February 2 this year, there are certain points which the outfits did not comment on when the same was provided to them for initiating the talks.

Points which the outfits have not commented on include undergrounds abiding by the Constitution of India, the laws of the land and the territorial integrity of Manipur, depositing of all weapons within the camp’s central armoury and making available the records of the same to the police.

Except disparity on these two points, the oufits under UPF and KNO have hinted at their willingness to the ground rules.

Yesterday’s talks were reportedly focussed on these two matters but what transpired at the meeting could not be confirmed immediately.

With regard to the objective of the SoO, the UPF had earlier proposed that the ground rules and modalities were mutually agreed upon with a view to ensuring continuance of an effective ceasefire/cessation of hostilities to pave the way for a peaceful and meaningful political dialogue.

They also proposed creation of mutual trust between the parties involved in the cessation of hostilities, COH.

On the ground rules’ preamble of the underground completely abjuring the path of violence and not engaging in violent or unlawful activities like killing, injuring, kidnapping, planning ambush, extortions, intimidations, carrying of arms in public and imposing of ‘tax’ or ‘fines’, the outfits proposed assurance from the security forces and the state police that they would not launch any offensive operations against the UPF.

The UPF would also not attack security forces or carry out any other activities which may jeopardize the ceasefire agreement.

The proposed meeting of joint monitoring committee once in a month was also agreed by the UPF but the UPF proposed that the JMC should be set up to monitor the effective implementation of the ground rules and modalities.

The joint monitoring committee is to be formed as per the draft revised ground rules of the SoO prepared by the state government and will be headed by an additional DGP or by the IGP (intelligence) of the state government and representatives of the MHA, Central police organizations and the army along with the underground groups as members to overlook the implementation of the SoO.

However, with regard to the composition of the JMC, UPF proposed that representatives of the Central government be the convener, representatives of the organisation and state government be co-conveners, and the other members may be jointly decided by the parties.

With regard to the powers and functions of the JMC, the outfit proposed that all cases of violation of ground rules would be referred to the JMC.

They also want the committee to monitor the relationship between the security forces and armed cadres, and appointment of regional and divisional level monitoring cells/groups to ensure proper working of provisions contained in the draft revised ground rules.

It also proposed meeting of the regional and divisional level monitoring cells once in a month and submitting of monthly report to the JMC.

Regional and divisional monitoring cell can be formed by representatives of the state government and organisation concerned, it proposed.

The outfit also did not give any comments on the provision for a complete list of the cadres of the underground group to the state police/IG, special branch with name and date of birth along with latest photographs for issuing identity cards as put down in the ground rules.

Imphal Free Press

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