Imphal: Civil society organisations representing the Meitei and Naga communities in Manipur have united to demand the cancellation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement. The resolution was reached during the inaugural Native Peoples Convention, held recently at Makhan village in the Kangpokpi district.
Organised by the Native Peoples Committee Manipur, the event served as a platform for indigenous groups to address ongoing security concerns. NPCM convenor Ashang Kasar stated that the committee plans to lobby legislators and national leaders in New Delhi to push for their demands. Beyond ending the SoO pact, the groups are calling for the removal of the Assam Rifles from the state and an update to the National Register of Citizens.
Kasar alleged that the SoO agreement has enabled illegal immigration from Myanmar and allowed militant groups to violate established ground rules. He also accused the Assam Rifles of failing to remain neutral in the current conflict, a claim that security agencies have previously rejected.
Former official Timothy Zimik addressed the assembly regarding demographic shifts, alleging that extensive migration from Myanmar has occurred over several decades. He claimed that the establishment of over 1,700 new villages in hill districts, particularly on ancestral Naga land, presents a significant challenge. The convention concluded with a commitment from participants to work together to protect land rights and local identity.
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