By extending the SoO, the Centre is “accelerating the balkanization of the Northeast,” warns the Meitei Alliance in a sharp statement.
BY PC Bureau
September 9, 2025: The Meitei Alliance, a global body of Meitei diaspora organizations, has issued a strong statement condemning the Government of India’s recent decision to extend the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF).
The Alliance described the extension as a “reward for violence” that continues to hold the Meitei community hostage rather than a step toward peace.
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The Alliance argued that far from strengthening democracy, the SoO emboldens militant groups in their pursuit of a separate Kuki homeland. It alleged that this aspiration is inspired by a “racist, genocidal, Nazi-style ideology,” pointing to Kuki literature such as Zale’ngam, which envisions an exclusive Kuki territory.
According to the statement, the continuation of SoO accelerates the balkanization of the Northeast and undermines Manipur’s territorial integrity.
The group also accused the Centre of extending SoO under President’s Rule without the participation of Manipur’s elected representatives, ignoring repeated appeals from diverse organizations and the unanimous resolution of the Manipur Legislative Assembly calling for its abrogation.
Allegations of Violence and Abuses
The Meitei Alliance listed a series of violent incidents and abuses it claims have been enabled by SoO, including:
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The killing of a Thadou leader by KRA (a SoO signatory) for advocating peace with Meiteis.
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Kidnappings, killings, and drone/sniper attacks on civilians and security forces.
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Extortion and illegal taxation on highways and businesses.
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Encroachment into reserved forests and illegal settlements.
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Large-scale poppy cultivation and drug trafficking.
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Militarization of SoO camps and recruitment of new cadres.
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Stockpiling of arms and ammunition under SoO protection.
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Electoral manipulation and intimidation.
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Silencing voices that advocate peace and coexistence.
The Alliance also accused the SoO of inflicting economic strangulation, humanitarian hardship, and fundamental rights violations against the Meitei community through militant blockades of lifeline highways.
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The Government of India must act with resolve. Peace cannot be built on appeasement. True stability requires dismantling militant structures, restoring authority to the State Government, and
upholding the rights and dignity of all communities in Manipur.@AmitShah @RajBhavManipur pic.twitter.com/nIW8fcGFzE— Meitei Alliance (@Me1teiAlliance) September 9, 2025
Flaws in the Agreement
Calling the SoO framework “fundamentally flawed,” the Alliance highlighted:
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The participation of militant groups in the Joint Monitoring Group (JMG), which it said shields them from accountability.
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The inability of the state government to act against violations without JMG approval.
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A “sham” disarmament process under the “two-key” system, which leaves weapons accessible to militants inside camps.
Demands to the Centre
The Meitei Alliance urged the Government of India to:
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Abrogate the SoO agreement with KNO and UPF.
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Restore full authority to the Manipur state government in law-and-order matters.
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Take strict action against groups involved in killings, extortion, illegal recruitment, electoral interference, and narco-terrorism.
The SoO framework, signed in 2008, was intended as a temporary ceasefire to pave the way for peace talks with Kuki insurgent groups. However, ethnic violence that erupted in Manipur in May 2023 has hardened positions on both sides, with Meitei groups accusing the Centre of appeasement and Kuki groups demanding a separate administration.
Founded in 2023, the Meitei Alliance comprises diaspora organizations from India, Europe, the US, Australia, and other countries. The group has been vocal in international forums, lobbying against what it calls the legitimization of militancy under SoO.
“The SoO has become a shield for militancy, crime, and instability,” the statement concluded, warning that peace cannot be built on appeasement but only by dismantling structures that legitimize violenc
