KNO, UPF tripartite talks likely to resume Sept end

Newmai News Network

IMPHAL | Sept 6

The first ever tripartite talks at the ‘political level’ with Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) is likely to be held either by the end of this month or early October, according to sources.

Only one meeting has been held after Dineshwar Sharma was appointed as interlocutor of the ongoing tripartite dialogues between KNO and UPF was appointed. “No political discussion” took place in the August 9 meeting.

According to ‘negotiator’ of KNO Dr. Seilen Haokip, Dineshwar Sharma had told him verbally that the tripartite talks are likely to be held either by the end of September or in the first week of October. Suspension of Operation (SoO) terms with KNO and UPF were extended for another one year which became effective from August 31. 

Meanwhile, Dr Seilen Haokip has expressed the desire to make the joint monitoring group (JMG) to be active and vibrant once again. He expressed regret that the JMG has become “inactive”.  Dr Seilen Haokip also said that matters related to the ‘ground rules’ of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) should be confined only within the ambit of the JMG.

The KNO leader’s expression was reflective of the August 9 meeting between the government and the SoO groups in New Delhi where ‘matters related to ‘ground rules’ dominated the better part of the discussion.

Interestingly, the next tripartite talks at the political level will be held at the back drops of various tribe based organisations expressing their seriousness on the talks.

It may be recalled on August 31, Hmar Inpui (the apex body of the Hmar tribe), the Thadou Inpi (the apex body of the Thadou tribe) and the Zomi Council (the apex body of Gangte, Kom, Mate, Paite, Simte, Tedim-Chin, Thangkhal, Vaiphei and Zou tribes) had urged Dineshwar Sharma, interlocutor of the ongoing tripartite dialogues between the United People’s Front (UPF), Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the government, to expedite the dialogues for “an early political solution”.

They also had urged the interlocutor to engage UPF leadership with “utmost sincerity to arrive at a pragmatic political autonomy for the tribal of Manipur within a given time-frame”.

On August 7, Kuki civil organizations had urged the “Kuki armed nationalists” to “unequivocally present the Kuki people’s demand for statehood”, according to Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM).