Asem Bhakta Singh, Special Correspondent North East
Imphal: (Waari Singbul Network) In a stunning political development, 35 legislators of the 60-member Manipur assembly, on Sunday, decided that the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with militants engaged in “killing civilians” be abrogated immediately.
This came amid the people’s popular campaign seeking revocation of the SoO agreement between Kuki militant groups and the Centre and the state government.
Other decisions to protect civilians, safeguard Manipur’s territorial integrity and unity, were also taken during a meeting of the MLAs and ministers belonging to different parties in Imphal .
The legislators also warned of taking rigid actions in consultation with the public if the Centre fails to take positive measures towards the demands.
The resolutions, a copy of which was issued to the media on Monday, said the SoO agreements with the armed militant groups, and the immunity it provides to these groups from a firm reaction from Central forces is the main cause of the never-ending cycle of violence.
SoO signatory militant groups which “indulge in killing of innocent civilians and violation of ground rules should be abrogated immediately,” It said.
“SoO agreement with other militant groups who also indulge in anti-state activities, should not be extended beyond its expiry date of February 29, this year,” it cautioned.
The meeting also resolved that there should be “complete disarmament of all illegal arms in the possession of miscreants and unauthorized persons in the entire state at the earliest by the Central and state forces.”
Noting that armed attacks using sophisticated weapons like rocket propelled grenade launchers on “Indian soil”, Indian citizens and security force by “Myanmar- based” armed militants “must be stopped at all costs, resolved the meeting.
On Assam Rifles’ failure to respond when unarmed civilians are indiscriminately fired upon, it maintained that these forces and their leadership need to give “strict instructions and be held accountable and replaced with forces that have the ability to act by returning suppressive fire” when they observe that unarmed civilians area being fired upon, to enable civilians to get to cover and safety.
Such a reaction, which is wholly appropriate to safeguard the lives of civilians under fire, has been non-existent which is why the public’s faith and trust in this forces presently deployed at places such as Moreh, Bishnupur, Imphal West, Kakching etc. “has been shattered,” noted the meeting.
