Churachandpur, January 13, 2026: The Zomi Re-Unification Organisation (ZRO) has issued a strong rejoinder rejecting an advisory circulated to media houses regarding the naming of Suspension of Operation (SoO) groups, terming it “ultra vires” and detrimental to the peace process.
The advisory, issued by Vishwajeet Singh, Advocate, Supreme Court of India, and Legal Advisor to the Kuki Civil Society, reportedly advised media outlets to refer to SoO groups exclusively as Kuki-Zo Political Groups (KZPGs) across print, electronic, and digital platforms.
In its rejoinder dated January 13, 2026, ZRO stated that it does not endorse the advisory, asserting that it violates the basic tenets and principles governing the SoO framework. The organisation contended that such nomenclature amounts to an imposed identity and carries the risk of derailing the ongoing peace process.
Recalling the historical context, ZRO noted that the SoO agreement was signed by the organisation as a distinct entity with the Government of India in 2005. It further highlighted that the United People’s Front (UPF) was later formed to coordinate a common political agenda without imposing nomenclature. The term “Kuki-Zo-Hmar” to describe SoO groups, ZRO said, was unanimously agreed upon during a meeting held in Delhi in 2023.
The organisation also cautioned media houses against what it described as a “malevolent media campaign” driven by vested interests to marginalise the Zomi community from political dialogue. ZRO reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the core interests of the Zomi people and maintaining the integrity of the peace process.
