Imphal: All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (Amuco), has strongly opposed the government’s extension of Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups terming it “not people-oriented”.
Amuco president Ph. Nando Luwang alleged that Kuki-Zo militants under the SoO are one of the root causes of Manipur’s ongoing unrest and cited the recent Jakuradhor incident in Jiribam, where several SoO-linked militants were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“SoO with Kuki militant groups had remained on hold since February 2024. Its extension will only add fuel to the fire and reignite the unrest in Manipur,” Nando warned.
“The state’s two-decade-long experience with SoO has shown that the framework has failed to bring peace but instead emboldened the militants. This agreement has benefitted only a handful of central leaders and the leaders of the underground outfits, not the people of Manipur.”
Nando contended that New Delhi’s insistence on continuing the ceasefire while violence and insecurity persist on the ground shows insensitivity to the plight of ordinary citizens.
“On what interest and for what reason has the SoO been extended? The government must reply to Manipur people,” he demanded.
He also downplayed the reopening of national highways, arguing that the Centre had already failed to ensure free movement despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s directive in March.
“The people of Manipur have a trust deficit with the central government. Unless this trust is regained through concrete action, announcements of free movement mean little,” he said, reiterating united clubs’ organisation’s demand that the SoO extension be reconsidered or abrogated immediately.
