Newmai News Network Imphal | August 8 The Joint Action Committee Against Anti Tribal Bills (JAC-AATB) has stated that the August 9, 2017 tripartite talks of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) in New Delhi, will determine the "socio-political survival of the Zo people in present Manipur". In a statement, the JAC-AATB stated that it "sincerely appreciated" the forthcoming round of tripartite talks scheduled for August 9 with the "armed groups belonging to the ethnic Zo people" – the first since the appointment of an interlocutor for the Indo-Zo dialogue. Reminding that the JAC-AATB had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Manipur on May 10 last in the presence of a witness from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, the JAC pointed out that the Manipur Government in the MoU acknowledged the demand for a separate administration for the indigenous tribal people of Manipur and assured all possible help and cooperation in the tripartite talks with the armed groups of the Zo people (Chin-Kuki-Zomi/Mizo) of present Manipur. The committee also appealed the "Zo descendants" to set aside a time from 11 am to 12 noon on Wednesday (August 9) as an 'hour of prayer'. It also made an "open appeal" to all churches to keep their doors open at this time, and organize mass prayers to coincide with the hour of prayer if possible. "Establishments and institutions are also requested to kindly organize prayer meetings at their conveniences, while those working in farms, construction sites, home-based businesses and various other forms of livelihood are also requested to kindly set aside time for prayer to coincide with the hour of prayer," it added. The themes of the prayer are for the success of the ongoing Indo-Zo political dialogue; the sincere honouring of all the agreed terms contained in the JAC’s MoU with the Government of Manipur; and peace and harmony in all the ancestral Zo territories especially in present Manipur. "It is our sincere hope and prayer that a positive amicable solution is reached through the Indo-Zo political talks, and that each and every Zo descendant extends every possible co-operation for the success of the dialogue," the JAC statement added.