SoO signatories asked to rein-in cadres

Imphal, Jan 10 : The Government has made it clear that stringent action would be taken up if armed cadres of any of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) signatory UG groups were found violating the ground rules including in the recent Nongbrang incident.

The Government made its position clear on the issue to the UG groups in the meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group of SoO held at the banquet hall of Ist Manipur Rifles here today.

It had also been pointed that inter and intra factional clashes, deserting one group and joining another, etc also come within the purview of violating the laid down ground rules of SoO.

Effective since August, 2008, SoO has been signed as a tripartite agreement with the involvement of the Centre and the State Government on one hand and the two umbrella bodies of various Kuki UG groups, namely UPF and KNO, on the other to facilitate peace talks.

There are in all 8 Kuki UG groups under UPF and 11 others under KNO.

The meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group was attended by Chief Secretary DS Poonia; Commissioner (Home) V Vumlunmang; Director in-charge of Northeast, Ministry of Home Affairs Dr Mehanathan, IG (Intelligence) LM Khoute, representatives of the Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF and BSF, and leaders of the Kuki UG groups which are signatories of SoO.

Inclusive of the recent Nongbrang incident, all the cases relating to registration of FIR, media reports as well as those which have not been reported in media in which the armed cadres of SoO signatory UG groups were allegedly involved were taken up for discussion in the meeting today.

While giving strong warning against repeating such incidents, the UG groups have also been directed to stop their extortion activities at once from the side of the Government.

From the side of the UG groups, it was informed that armed cadres who were found involved in activities that amount to violation of SoO ground rules are being removed from the group and other necessary actions initiated against them.

Maintaining that the nearly two years long peace process is progressing well in the right direction, the Government assured that ongoing construction of 10 designated camps for the armed cadres would be completed next month.

To ensure speedy construction work of the designated camps, relevant order for releasing all the requisite fund to facilitate completion of the Ginatjang designated camp had been issued and release of additional fund for the designated camps at T Gamnom and N Phaisat had also been assured.

Furthermore, the Government side assured the leaders of the UG groups that the monthly stipend for the armed cadres of the SoO signatory groups would be released very soon.

With regard to issuing identity cards to the armed cadres, the two sides agreed that it would be carried out on the basis of the new list to be prepared after deleting the name of the cadres who have been removed or passed away.