A 2014 photograph of the ZUF cadre. Photo courtesy E-Pao.
New Delhi: To boost the peace process in Manipur, the Government of India and the State Government of Manipur signed a cessation of operation agreement with the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), a Manipuri insurgent group, here today. The ZUF has been active for more than a decade in the northeastern state.
The agreement was signed by senior officers of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Manipur and the representatives of ZUF in the presence of the Chief Minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh.
It may be mentioned that the Government of India has signed several agreements to end insurgency and boost development in North East, in recent times following the call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an ‘Insurgency free and prosperous North East’.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs stated that the representatives of the armed Group have agreed to abjure violence and join the peaceful democratic process as established by law of the land. It mentioned that the agreement provides for the rehabilitation and resettlement of the armed cadres. A Joint Monitoring Group will be constituted to oversee the enforcement of the agreed ground rules.
It may be mentioned that the ZUF, an underground insurgent group predominantly comprising Zeliangrong Nagas from Khopum valley and surrounding areas of Tamenglong District was formed in February 2011 in Khopum Valley with 15 to 20 defected cadres of the insurgent group The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isac-Muivah). These were later joined by the defected cadre of other secessionist groups, the NSCN (Khaplang) and Naga National Council, including civil wing cadres. The aim behind the formation of this group was to defend Zeliangrong land, forest resources, culture, traditional values, history and customary traditions. On February 26, 2014, the chairman of Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), Kamson, stated that the Zeliangrong ‘struggle’ was not seeking isolation or secession from India but within the Constitution of India for a common homeland of ‘fragmented’ Zeliangrong community in different states.
– global bihari bureau
