Dialogue with Kuki outfits soon: CS

IMPHAL, Sept 23:(NP)
Manipur Chief Secretary DS Poonia has asserted that political dialogue with Kuki based militants maintaining ceasefire with government forces under tripartite suspension of agreement (SoO) would start soon.
"We have good conditions to start political dialogue with the signatory outfits (under SoO) and try to solve all the issues. The dialogue with the 18 Kuki militants, signatory of the tripartite SoO agreement with the Central and state government will be initiated at the earliest," the chief secretary said.
He was speaking as chief guest of the inaugural function of the "Camp Ebenezer" the designated peace camp of the Kuki National Front today at Sadar Hill in Senapati district. Local MLA of Saikhul Assembly constituency Doukhomang Kipgen, president of Kuki Women Union Manipur Rose Mangsi also attended the inaugural function.
"Terms and conditions of the dialogue will be chalked in the next round of tripartite talks scheduled on September 29 in which progress of implementation of the agreement arrived at last meeting held in New Delhi will be reviewed," Poonia said.
The separate tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People's Front (UPF) and Central and State government on one side existing since 2008 August 22 was extended by 45 days in a talk held in New Delhi on August 22 of this year.
The next round of talks is to be held on October 6 next and it will also chalk out modality of the political dialogue between the two organisations, official said.
The agreement also includes cadres of all signatory outfits to enter to their designated camps opened at different places and to deposit arms to be kept under double lock by September 20 which would be kept in the camp armoury or with the nominated Police/SFs.
Construction of 10 designated camps had so far been completed and cadres entered the camp and deposited their arms in the double lock armouries.
Rose Mangsi, president of Kuki Women's Union Manipur, speaking on the occasion, appealed the government not to do anything which would demoralize the cadres after they lodged at the designated camps.
"Governments should treat them with regard as they were stepping towards peace in the region," she added.
Mangsi, exhorting the cadres said that they should not be demoralized and can do many things for the welfare of the Kuki people.
Leaders of the KNF reiterated that the signing of SoO agreement and deposit of arms should not be treated as an end to the struggle of the outfit and appealed for sincerity of the Central government in bringing a settlement through political dialogue.
Reiterating their demands, they said a separate state for the Kuki in the hill area of Manipur will be among other agendas to be included in the political dialogue.