The ceasefire agreement between MHA and Kuki-Zo groups, pending for nearly two years, could be finalised on September 3, to pave the way for PM Mod’s Manipur visit on September 3.
BY PC Bureau
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tentative visit to Manipur on September 13, another round of talks between the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), armed groups under the Suspension of Operation (SoO) framework, and the Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) will be held in Delhi on September 3. A breakthrough in these talks could set the stage for the Prime Minister’s Manipur visit on a note of hope and promise.
Sources said the MHA is preparing to sign an extension of the SoO ceasefire agreement—pending for nearly two years—if some unfinished points of dispute could be covered. The last round of talks on August 5 involved representatives of the MHA and the Kuki-Zo groups under the SoO umbrella, including the Kuki National Organisation and the United People’s Front. At that time, the Centre urged the KZC to endorse free movement across Manipur’s highways for “all communities” and to agree to a proposal for cessation of hostilities.
However, one of the most sensitive issues under discussion is the ground rules of the original 2008 SoO agreement, which emphasized preserving the “territorial integrity of Manipur.” With Kuki-Zo groups now demanding a separate Union Territory, sources said the MHA may insert a new clause to allow continued negotiations without provoking either the Kuki-Zo groups to withdraw or sparking unrest among Meitei groups.
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Officials in the MHA contend that the “territorial integrity” clause is largely symbolic and constitutionally untenable, since Article 3 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to redraw state boundaries. Still, given the sensitivity of the issue, the ministry is considering inserting a fresh clause in the SoO preamble that acknowledges discussions on the “political” demands of the Kuki-Zo. These demands, repeatedly highlighted by the groups, centre on the creation of a Union Territory for the hill people.
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The extension of the ceasefire is seen as a crucial step toward restoring stability in violence-hit Manipur and as a precursor to more substantive talks on the political aspirations of the Kuki-Zo communities.
As part of its engagement with the KZC, the MHA may also address issues including “cessation of hostilities” and the smooth movement of civilians and goods along Manipur’s highways. Sources indicated, however, that the expression “free movement” may be avoided in the final draft. KZC leaders reportedly told the MHA that their community had never obstructed commercial vehicles and could not be held responsible for the safety of individuals crossing buffer zones.
On the Centre’s proposal for a “cessation of hostilities,” the KZC is said to have objected to the wording, calling it a “misnomer,” contending that the Kuki-Zo community had not initiated hostilities and suggested renaming the arrangement.
According to sources, significant progress has been made among the three parties—the MHA, SoO groups, and the KZC—and the extension agreement is expected to be finalised and signed in this round of talks.
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Meanwhile, several influential Meitei civil society organisations have voiced strong opposition to the extension of the SoO agreement. They argue that the ceasefire, originally designed to restore peace, has instead emboldened Kuki-Zo armed groups, whom they accuse of fueling ethnic tensions and demanding a separate Union Territory. These groups contend that extending the SoO would legitimise what they describe as “secessionist tendencies” and undermine Manipur’s unity.
Meitei organisations such as the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) have repeatedly pressed the Centre not to compromise on the state’s territorial integrity. They warn that any attempt to dilute the 2008 SoO preamble, which emphasized protecting Manipur’s borders, would trigger widespread unrest among the valley population. Leaders have also cautioned that granting political concessions to the Kuki-Zo under the cover of a ceasefire would be seen as a betrayal of Meitei interests.
