COCOMI and KKL demand the withdrawal of the SoO agreement with Kuki outfits
The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL) have demanded the government promptly withdraw from the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement signed with Kuki armed outfits. Alleging intentional attacks on innocent civilians by SoO militants following the communal violence that erupted on May 3, both organisations expressed their concerns and urged decisive action.
In separate statements, COCOMI and KKL expressed deep concern over the continuous series of attacks carried out by SoO militants, specifically targeting innocent civilians residing in foothill villages in recent days.
The KKL statement emphasised the immediate need to bring back SoO Kuki militants to designated camps or declare them as unlawful organisations akin to other outlawed groups in the state. COCOMI highlighted that the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians by Kuki militants had hindered efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the region.
COCOMI stressed that the conflict had been further aggravated by the Kuki militants’ attacks on innocent civilians, demanding an immediate halt to all activities by SoO Kuki militants. They expressed hope that the government will recognize the significance of their demand and take appropriate action to address the issue.
The KKL asserted that the conflict should not be viewed as a dispute between the Kuki and Meetei communities but rather as a confrontation between Ku-ki-Chin militants of Myanmarese origin and the government.
The KKL raised questions about the state government’s response to the communal clashes and the absence of proactive measures taken against Kuki militants by paramilitary forces, despite their continued targeting of innocent Meetei individuals.
Furthermore, the KKL demanded precise data on missing arms and ammunition from SoO camps and called for an investigation into the number of SoO camps verified to date.
The KKL also alleged that the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) airlifted into the state are predominantly deployed in Imphal areas, neglecting the interior regions that remain unadministered, lacking basic facilities such as police stations and health centres.
Regarding the government’s house-to-house survey initiated to detect illegal immigrants, the KKL questioned why the Kuki community is apprehensive and asserted that it is incorrect for the Kukis to claim reserved and protected forest areas as their own, as these areas fall under the purview of the Indian Forest Act.
