Imphal, Mar 1: The Kuki Zomi Hmar MLAs expressed their resentment on the resolution passed by Manipur Assembly seeking abrogation of Tripartite Agreement for Suspension of Operations with Kuki National Organisation (KNO) & United People’s Front (UPF).
“We the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar MLAs would like to condemn and place on record our dissent and disapproval to this one sided resolution emanating from prejudice, bias and hatred for our community that reflects a myopic view on the issue”, said a statement issued by 10 MLAs from the community.
The statement further said that the resolution was adopted to defame the KNO & UPF and further alienate the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar community as part of the continuing hate campaign.
The legislators have urged the Home Ministry, Government of India to consider all aspects of the issue in a fair and just manner to check further discrimination and alienation of the Kuki-Zomi-Hmar people.
It may be noted that the SoO Tripartite Agreement was first signed on August 22, 2008 and subsequently renewed periodically with clearly laid down Ground Rules.
As part of the Ground Rules, there is a strong mechanism in place called Joint Monitoring Group comprising of Central agencies, State Government agencies and the KNO & UPF representative meant for overseeing adherence to the Ground Rules.
“We would like to question whether the resolution adopted by the august House was based on any report or observations of the JMG, which is the only official mechanism to determine whether any violation of the Ground Rules has taken place or not. This obviously is not the case as the resolution is based on an overwhelming sense of animosity and hatred for a particular community,” the statement said.
The statement further stated that the Tripartite Agreement was lauded by the community as the harbinger of peace and security in the state when it was signed in 2008.
“The Hill Districts have witnessed a sea change in the security scenario as the level of violence came down drastically in the years that followed. Successive governments have been taking their share of credit over im- provement in the law and order situation in the state owing to signing of the Tripartite Agreement.The recent signing of a Peace Accord with an UNLF faction was initiated by the State Government, and the role played by this outfit during this short period in the current violence is widely known to one and all”, the statement added.
