A “false and misleading” report about Kuki peace talks in Guwahati has been debunked by Assam-based SoO groups. They assert their consistent dialogue with the Assam government is separate from Manipur’s volatile situation.
BY PC Bureau
June 7, 2025 – The Kuki Suspension of Operations (SoO) Groups of Assam (RGOK/KRA, UKDA & KLO/KLA) today issued a sharp clarification, refuting widespread reports about a supposed peace talk held in Guwahati on June 5, 2025, that allegedly involved Manipur-based Kuki groups and the ongoing conflict in that state.
In a statement released by Chairman Janglun Hangsing, the Assam-based Kuki SoO groups asserted that the circulating reports were “false and misleading,” and were “mischievously spread by Manipur-based media outlets, including Impact TV and various social media platforms.”
“It has come to our notice that several media outlets based in Manipur… have circulated false and misleading information regarding the talks held at Guwahati on 5th June 2025,” the clarification read. “These reports erroneously claim that the meeting involved the Kuki SoO Groups of Manipur and was linked to the situation in Manipur. This is to categorically state that the said meeting was in no way related to Manipur nor did it involve any Kuki SoO Group from Manipur.”
The controversy arose from claims suggesting the recent Guwahati meeting had a direct bearing on Manipur’s volatile ethnic situation. However, the Kuki SoO Groups of Assam emphasized that the meeting was a routine extension of a biennial dialogue process specific to Assam, initiated in 2012. This established engagement, held consistently every six months for over thirteen years, focuses exclusively on the ongoing peace process within Assam and holds no connection to Manipur’s affairs.
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The statement strongly condemned the “deliberate spread of fallacious and unverified information,” warning that such narratives not only mislead the public but also undermine the integrity of critical peace efforts in Assam.
“The meeting held in Guwahati was a routine extension meeting exclusively between the Kuki SoO Groups of Assam and the Government of Assam,” the statement reiterated. “Such meetings have been conducted every six months since 2012, making this the regular biannual engagement in the ongoing peace process specific to Assam.”
The Kuki SoO Groups of Assam urged all concerned parties, including media outlets, to refrain from politicizing or misrepresenting such sensitive meetings. They called for greater journalistic responsibility, stressing the importance of verifying facts before broadcasting or publishing information that could destabilize peace efforts.
Manipur SoO Talks Remain Distinct Amidst Ongoing Conflict
While the Assam talks are clearly distinct, Manipur’s Kuki-Zo groups under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement continue their separate negotiations with the Union Home Ministry. These groups maintain their demand for a separate administration, similar to a Union Territory, a core issue stemming from the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023.
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The last recorded talks between the Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups in Manipur and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) were held on August 19, 2024. Three rounds of meetings took place between representatives of the Kuki-Zo insurgent groups, specifically the United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and MHA officials, including A.K. Mishra, Adviser (Northeast), and Intelligence Bureau officials. These discussions focused on reviewing the ground rules of the SoO agreement, with proposals to relocate SoO camps from valley districts to deeper hill areas. Political demands, such as a separate administration for Kuki-Zo people, were not discussed in these meetings.
