Correspondent
IMPHAL, AUGUST 12
UNITED People’s Front (UPF) representatives led by its Convenor Aaron Kipgen along with social leaders in New Delhi met Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju today.
Speaking over telephone, Aaron Kipgen stated, “We have apprised the issues concerning UPF and the need to expedite the political peace process and submitted memorandum for immediate appointment of interlocutor.”
The tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement between UPF/Kuki National Organizations (the two conglomerate groups of the Kuki underground groups) involving the Government of India and the state which was signed on March 22,2012 in New Delhi witnessed only year to year extension of the SoO Agreement.
With just 10 days left for the expiry of the SoO Pact, Aaron stated “extension of the SoO agreement in the name of peace without actually addressing the political aspiration of the Kukis would be a denial of their constitutional rights and violation of the SoO pact”.
UPF on our part has submitted series of memoranda and representations to the former Union Home Ministers, P Chidambaram and Sushil Kumar Shinde for the appointment of interlocutor, the release added. UPF Charter of Demand was also submitted to Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister of India on March 22 in New Delhi.
However, appointment of interlocutor has been kept pending in the Prime Minister’s Office for the last two years. This is due to lack of decisive leadership and a sign of negligence on the part of the Government of India, the release said. The release also highlighted that ‘it is with renewed hope and vigor that we approached the new government in the centre, BJP led NDA Government today’.
Union Minister of State (Home), Kiren Rijiju has committed to look into the matter and expedite the peace process in the interest of the people as a whole, the release claimed. UPF in particular and the hill people of Manipur in general would be closely watching the moves of the new government with the hope to initiate the long awaited political dialogue as soon as possible.
“We appreciate the Rajya Sabha MP of Assam, Bishwajit Daimary for bringing to the notice of the Members of Parliament in Rajya Sabha about the issues confronting North East”, it added.
“He has rightly stated that the delay in starting political dialogue with the insurgent groups of NE under Soo agreement with the government and resolving their issues in spite of them under SoO Agreement for several years have resulted in the formation of new factional groups among them which has again increased extortion and kidnappings.”
UPF is also thankful to the Union Minister of Home Affairs, Rajnath Singh for declaring in the house that the new government would start political dialogue with the SoO groups of the North East in answering to a query.
