Guwahati: North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a crucial meeting with the Kuki rebel groups leaders on June 11 night in Guwahati.
The Assam CM meets the Kuki rebel leaders in a bid to restore peace and normalcy in the troubled, torn North Eastern State of Manipur. As per sources of the CMO Dispur, four leaders of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) met CM Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati on June 11 night. This came after the recent visit of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to Manipur on June 10. The Kuki National Organisation is an umbrella group of 17 Kuki militant groups who are under Suspension of Operation (SoO), and similarly, United People’s Forum is also an umbrella organisation of 8 Kuki rebel groups who are also in SoO after signing peace agreements with Government of India and Manipur in 2008.
It is alleged by the Meitei civil society organisations that the Kuki militants who are in SoO are largely involved in the recent violence in the State. NEDA convenor and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s meeting with the Kuki rebel leaders are considered to be a big step towards restoring peace in Manipur. It is said that the meeting with Kuki rebel leaders is the continuation of the peace process initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his four days visit to Manipur from May 29 to June 1. Sources close to KNO and UPF said that the meeting with NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma was in the desired positive line. But the two organisations refused to reveal any details and said it’s too early to give any details of the meeting.
Earlier, Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Manipur on June 10, where he met his Manipur counterpart N Biren Singh and his cabinet colleagues. The Assam CM also held discussions with civil society organisations and various leaders of political groups and held discussions with the BJP MLAs also. After the meeting, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma told the media that restoring peace and stability in Manipur is the top priority of the Central Government. “Whatever discussion I had today, I will report it to the Union Home Minister, and he will suggest further actions to be taken”, he added. But the meeting between the NEDA convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma and Kuki rebel groups leaders is considered a crucial breakthrough in restoring peace in Manipur as the Kuki militant groups are a major stakeholder in the peace process in the State.
Himanta Biswa Sarma is slated to visit the hill districts of Manipur in the next two to three days. Meanwhile, no major law and order situation was reported from Manipur, which has been on the boil for over one month.
It should be mentioned that violence broke out in Manipur during a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ organised in the hill districts by the tribal students union on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Over 100 people have lost their lives, and more than 310 people, including an MLA and several security personnel, were injured in the violence continuing for over a month. 4,1014 numbers of arson cases were registered during the violence, and over 35000 people were displaced in the clashes.
The Hindu Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Kuki and other tribes constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. Recently the Manipur Government started evictions in the hill and forest areas encroached by migrant Kukis. Tension started in the hill districts during the evictions. The Manipur High Court on March 27 passed the judgement to include the Meitei community in the ST list, and protests erupted in the hill districts after the High Court judgement. During the solidarity march organised by the tribal students union backed by the church’s community, armed Kuki militants attacked the Meitei community village in the Bishnupur district on May 3. Violence spread to the entire State thereafter.
