As promised, Chief Minister N Biren Singh has delivered with regard to withdrawing from the controversial Suspension of Operations (SoO) with certain Kuki militant groups. It is indeed a bold decision of his government and his commitment towards protection of forest lands and against poppy plantations in hill areas is reflected. The state cabinet on Friday decided to withdraw the State Government from SoO agreements with three hill-based insurgent groups, namely the Kuki National Army (KNA), the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA).
Initially, the Cabinet in a statement stated that it resolved to suspend SoO for KNA and ZRA. It may be mentioned that the Union Government, the Manipur state government and several Kuki militant groups had signed the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreements. As we said earlier, the Manipur government was a late entry in the SoO agreement.
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In fact, it was conceived as a perfect strategy to isolate the valley insurgent groups after the Government of India signed a ceasefire agreement with the dreaded NSCN (IM). The numerous Kuki militant groups or factions were brought under two groupings namely UPF and KNO for SoO agreement and talks which happen once in a blue moon.
Regardless of the SoO agreement, Kuki militant groups have not deviated from its regular mischief of forced taxation, kidnappings and abduction and intimidation during elections. It is widely believed that many of the legislators elected to the state assembly have had the blessings of the militant groups and naturally the elected MLAs are obliged to the said militant groups. Despite fervent appeals and pledges given by various tribe organisations to join the War on Drugs campaign 2.0, there is still widespread poppy plantation in the hill areas.
An avalanche of more and more tribes, including the Kuki-Chin-Mizo groups herded by respective MLAs and leaders started giving pledges to join the campaign. A drone survey of the hill areas revealed the presence of widespread poppy cultivation in the guise of other vegetable plantations and the Chief Minister was aghast.
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In recent times, widespread poppy cultivation has been detected mostly in Kangpokpi and Saikul constituencies besides Churachandpur district. Well this time, the Chief Minister N Biren Singh seems serious enough to take on those supporting the widespread poppy cultivation and facilitating drug smuggling from across the border. He has even revealed the interrogation report of the tribal chiefs that certain SoO groups are involved in the practice. So, the stakes are high as many of the SoO groups are more or less involved with the leading politicians of the state. It requires political will and resolve if he is to confront these groups.
The main problem in the hill areas is widespread poppy cultivation by doing away with traditional crops and agricultural practices. Poppy cultivation fetches hard cash quickly with little effort while traditional agricultural activity requires hard work and a long process and yet the produce they get is little and not commensurate with the labour they had put in. Earlier, only organic farming was practised in the hills and there was no place for chemical fertilizers.
Today, with the introduction of poppy cultivation there has been rampant use of chemical fertilizers which has led to degradation of soil fertility and pollution of water besides deforestation. In the first edition of the anti-drug campaign, there was support from several quarters. But the campaign was marred by the infamous Lhukhosei Zou case. Somehow, he got himself acquitted by the court while a few of his minions were convicted for possession of a huge quantity of drugs.
Only when the Supreme Court pulled up the state government for not appealing against the acquittal as demanded by some anti-drug groups, the government recently filed an appeal. While the state and its law enforcing agencies have reservations against the anti-drug groups for taking law into their hands, the groups also do not always trust the state agencies of doing their job honestly. Well, the recent initiative of the chief minister in convening a strategy meeting with NIA, NCB, NAB, Assam Rifles and Manipur police is indeed welcome.
