The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has condemned and opposed the Centre’s decision to extend the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement with what it called “Chin-Kuki armed narco-terrorist groups”.
The COCOMI, an umbrella group of several Meitei civil bodies, in a statement, alleged that the extension of the SoO agreement came despite the series of “terrorist and criminal” acts committed by Kuki-Chin militant groups. It said the decision runs completely against the interests of the indigenous people of Manipur.
It asserted that the “popularly elected Government of Manipur” had, through a Cabinet decision on March 10, 2023, unanimously resolved to abrogate the SoO agreement. “Under the current President’s Rule, the administration is being run by an authority appointed from New Delhi, which lacks the legitimacy to represent the people of Manipur in letter and spirit. The decision to extend the SoO under such circumstances is illegitimate and reflects an undemocratic and hegemonic imposition upon the indigenous people and their elected representatives of Manipur,” it said.
By extending overwhelming legitimacy and recognition to armed Chin-Kuki narco-terrorist groups under the deceptive pact of the SoO, the Government of India has raised serious doubts about its role and responsibility in dealing with narco-terrorism in the region, the COCOMI said. It further alleged that since the introduction of the SoO in 2005 and 2008, such agreements have only shielded “narco-terrorist” armed groups while undermining the democratic will of the people.
The international community too, will question India’s credibility in combating narco-terrorism when it is seen as providing safe passage and impunity to such groups.
The COCOMI stated that the Government of India has willfully disregarded the unanimous resolution of the Manipur Legislative Assembly taken on 29 February 2024, urging the Government of India to revoke (abrogate) the SoO.
The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) signed the tripartite suspension of operation (SoO) agreement with the government of India and Manipur on August 22, 2008. Since then, successive governments have been extending the agreement after it expired. However, the pact has not been extended since violence-hit Manipur on May 3, 2023. The pact was extended on Thursday (September 4, 2025) in New Delhi.
