Manipur Government to Hold Talks with Kuki Armed Groups

Manipur government has decided, in principle, to hold peace talks with Kuki militant outfits in the state. The decision to initiate a peace process with the Kuki militants was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh some days ago after getting the go ahead from the union ministries of Defence and Home.

According to news reports, formal talks with militants could begin only after informal discussions among representatives of the state government, the Centre and militant outfits. The ceasefire between the state government and the militant outfits would be declared before beginning the peace talks and ground rules which were to be observed by both parties prepared, the sources said.

It must be noted that central forces such as Assam Rifles and the army deployed in Manipur had entered into a ceasefire with Kuki militant outfits in August 2005 without the approval of the Manipur government, to which the state government had sent its objections to the Union Home ministry. They said inspite of ceasefire between Kuki militants and central forces, frequent clashes between Kuki militants and state forces were continuing.