Headline report by The Statesman of India states that with the signing of a key peace agreement in Manipur (near the Myanmar region), national highways have reopened, and hopes for peace are rising.

On Thursday, the Indian central government signed a landmark tripartite agreement with the Kuki-Zo rebel groups and the Manipur state government, and persuaded protesters to reopen a major highway that had been blocked for two years, which could bring a chance for peace to this conflict-ridden state.

Since 2023, at least 260 people have died in ethnic conflicts in the state. The central government and the Manipur state government signed a ceasefire agreement with the Kuki National Organization and the United People's Front, which is not affiliated with any armed organization, will not launch offensive actions against security forces or the public, and security forces will not take action against the Kuki National Organization, the United People's Front, and their members.

The Ministry of Home Affairs stated that representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Manipur state government, the Kuki National Organization (KNO), and the United People's Front (UPF) held meetings, which ended with the signing of a tripartite ceasefire (SoO) agreement on renegotiating terms and conditions (basic rules).

A monitoring group will check the implementation of the rules and take action against violations, and the Kuki-Zo committee will open NH-2 highway for free passage of commuters.

"This will help achieve peace along NH-02," the ministry said in a statement. "In a major decision, the Kuki-Zo committee decided today to open National Highway-02 to allow free passage of commuters and essential supplies. The Kuki-Zo committee has committed to cooperating with the security forces deployed by the central government to maintain ... These developments occurred before Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit the state, which would be his first visit since the violence erupted in May 2023, around September 13th."

Modi plans to visit Mizoram at that time, and he may hold public meetings in the Imphal valley area and the Churachandpur mountainous area, officials who are aware of the matter said. It should be clarified that there is currently no official confirmation or announcement of this visit. Imphal is the valley area inhabited by the Meitei people, while the Kuki-Zo tribes live in Churachandpur. Since the violence broke out in May, these two areas have been effectively divided.

The Manipur unrest is one of the frequent violent conflicts in this state in recent years in northeastern India, mainly due to ethnic tensions, political rights disputes, and economic inequality issues. ‌

Manipur historically remained independent for a long time, and was forcibly incorporated into India in 1949, leading to long-term dissatisfaction caused by cultural assimilation policies. There are deep contradictions between local ethnic groups (such as the Meitei and Kuki) regarding land and resource distribution. ‌

In May 2023, the local government classified the Meitei as "Scheduled Tribes", triggering protests from other ethnic groups such as the Kukis, leading to an escalation of violent conflicts. In addition, riots in September 2024 due to land division policies further exacerbated social divisions. ‌

There are more than 30 armed groups in the state, some of which advocate for independence or greater autonomy, often expressing their demands through attacks on government institutions and militia confrontations. ‌

During the May 2023 unrest, nearly 10,000 people were forced to flee, and India deployed 55 battalions to suppress the situation, with another 14 battalions on standby. Economic backwardness has led to unemployment problems, which have intensified the tendency of young people to join separatist ideas. ‌

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842518241160204/

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