Thadou Inpi Manipur urges Kuki Inpi Manipur to call off proposed rally, stresses separate Thadou identity and supports NIA investigation.
Imphal, May 30: Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) on Friday urged Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) to call off its proposed nationwide rally scheduled for May 30, while asserting that the recently deceased church leaders belonged to the Thadou community and should not be identified under any “Kuki-Zo” umbrella identity.
In a media release, TIM expressed concern over KIM’s notification calling for the rally and describing the deceased church leaders as “Kuki-Zo church leaders”.
The organisation stated that the three deceased leaders of the Thadou Baptist Association India were “Thadou pastors and church leaders belonging to the Thadou community and associated with Thadou institutions”.
“They were born as Thadou, lived as Thadou, and remained Thadou in ethnic and cultural identity until their final breath,” the statement said.
TIM maintained that the identity and legacy of the church leaders should be honoured “with dignity and truth” and should not be subjected to what it termed as “political appropriation” or “identity distortion”.
The organisation reiterated that the Thadou people possess a distinct ethnic, cultural, linguistic and historical identity separate from Kuki identity.
According to TIM, the movement seeking recognition of Thadou identity is based on “truth, peace, democratic engagement, mutual respect, and the principle of community self-determination”.
The statement further said that the deceased church leaders and their identities should not be “subsumed under any Kuki political movement or fictitious umbrella identity such as Kuki/Kuki-Zo without the consent of the Thadou people and their institutions”.
TIM also referred to the ongoing investigation into the killing of the three church leaders, noting that the Government of Manipur had handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The organisation appealed to all concerned groups and individuals to allow the legal process to proceed without interference or political mobilisation.
“As the matter is now under investigation by a competent authority, TIM urges all concerned to allow the due legal process to proceed without interference, speculation, or attempts to shape public opinion,” the statement said.
TIM alleged that KIM’s proposed rally reflected what it described as a recurring attempt to use public emotions and the suffering of the Thadou community to advance “radical Kuki political ideology”.
The organisation also criticised the annual observance of “Kuki Black Day” on September 13 and programmes associated with May 3, alleging that such events had promoted “Kuki victimhood, supremacy, violence, and vengeance”.
TIM claimed that such narratives had contributed to hostility not only against Nagas but also against Thadou, Zomi and other communities.
The organisation further expressed concern that “communal and Kuki-supremacist messages and songs” were being used to influence Thadou people and alienate them from their own identity.
TIM appealed to all Thadou individuals, churches, youth bodies and organisations not to participate in any rally or programme that it said sought to politicise the deaths of the church leaders or portray them in a manner inconsistent with Thadou identity.
At the same time, the organisation urged all communities and civil society groups to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and actions that could deepen mistrust between communities.
“Responsible leadership demands restraint, wisdom, maturity, and commitment to peace,” the statement added.
TIM stated that the Thadou people seek justice and peaceful coexistence with neighbouring communities and welcomed dialogue and reconciliation involving Thadou, Zomi, Mizo, Hmar, Naga, Meitei and other communities.
The organisation appealed to all stakeholders to support the NIA investigation, respect the distinct identity of the Thadou people and work collectively towards restoring peace and normalcy in the region.
