Face2News/New Delhi

In a significant decision, the Kuki-Zo Council has decided today to open the National Highway-02 for the free movement of commuters and essential goods. The decision came after a series of meetings between officials of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and a delegation of KZC in the last few days at New Delhi. KZC has given commitment to cooperate with Security Forces deployed by GoI to maintain peace along NH-02.

2. Side by side, a tripartite meeting among representatives of MHA, Govt. of Manipur, and Kuki National Organisation/KNO and United People’s Front/UPF was also held at New Delhi today. The meeting concluded with the signing of a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement on re-negotiated terms and conditions (ground rules) to be effective from the day of signing of the Agreement for a period of one year. Among other provisions, the revised ground rules reiterated:

(1) The territorial integrity of Manipur.

(2) Need for a negotiated solution to bring lasting peace and stability to the State of Manipur.

3. KNO and UPF have also agreed to:

(1) Relocate seven designated camps away from areas vulnerable to conflict.

(2) Reduce the number of designated camps.

(3) Relocate the weapons with nearest CRPF/BSF camps.

(4) Stringent physical verification of cadres by Security Forces to de-list foreign nationals, if any.

4. Joint Monitoring Group will henceforth closely monitor enforcement of ground rules, and violations will be dealt with firmly in future, including review of the SoO Agreement.