Saturday, August 23, 2008

SoO signed, Truce Enforced with Kuki groups

Imphal, Aug 23 : After a series of turns and negotiations and brain storming sessions, the ground rules for the Suspension of Operations between the Government and Kuki armed groups, represented by the KNO and UPF were signed today.

While the KNO represents 11 groups, the UPF represents eight outfits.
From the side of the Centre, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry in charge of North East, Navin Verma appended his signature to the agreement while the State Government was represented by Principal Secretary (Home) DS Poonia.

Eight members each from the KNO and the UPF also signed the agreement.

The signatories from the side of the KNO are its vice president Lanminthang Vaiphei, defence secretary TS Haokip, cabinet member TS German Kuki and another member Joshua Kuki while the signatories from the UPF include its general secretary ST Thangboi Kipgen, members Calvin H, TL Jacob Thadou and David Hangshing.

Talking to The Sangai Express an official source said that the Director in the Home Ministry AK Goyal and State IGP (Intelligence) LM Khaute were also present at the meeting today.

With the signing of the ground rules, the SoO has come into force, said the source and added that it will be for one year.

The agreement can be extended if there is mutual agreement and understanding, added the source.

The UPF had initially expressed its reservations over some points contained in the ground rules of the SoO, said the source and added that they eventually relented and signed the agreement after their doubts were clarified during the meeting.

Though no time frame has been set on when to start the peace talk, a Joint Monitoring Group headed by the State Principal Secretary (Home) DS Poonia has been formed.

One representative each from the KNO and UPF are also in the Monitoring Group.

Another meeting will be held to fix the date and place for the peace talk to start, informed the source further.

Some of the significant points of the ground rules include, issuing Identity cards to all the cadres of the two groups by the Government, payment of Rs 2000 to each cadre monthly for maintenance as well as identifying and building the designated camps.

The cadres will not be allowed to move out of the designated camps with arms and all designated camps will be located a good distance from the National Highways as well as international boundaries.

The outfits have been told to strictly adhere to the ground rules laid down.

When the talk starts it will be under the ambit of the Constitution of India, said the source and added that the territorial integrity of the State would not be compromised on account of the peace process.

In case cadres want to move out from their designated camps, then prior information should be given either to the State or Central forces for security.

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