Thadou Inpi Manipur has urged Thadou individuals to register online, questioned the state’s peace outreach and reaffirmed its position on Manipur’s territorial integrity.
Imphal, Oct. 2016: Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), the apex body representing the Thadou community, has urged Thadou individuals to register through its online portal, saying the move is intended to affirm the community’s distinct identity and separate it from political movements advocating a separate administration in the name of “Kuki” or “Kuki-Zo”.
In a statement, TIM questioned the Manipur Government’s approach to peace outreach, alleging that the use of “Kuki” or “Kuki-Zo” as an umbrella term for non-Naga Zo tribes was inconsistent with the government’s separate engagement with Zomi and Hmar organisations.
The organisation said the government, led by Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, had attempted in recent months to bring representatives of Kuki, Zomi, Hmar and other communities to Imphal as part of efforts to restore peace and normalcy.
However, TIM alleged that the Thadou community had been excluded from these efforts despite being represented by the organisation, which it describes as the community’s apex body.
TIM argued that the government’s approach lacked clarity over who was represented by the term “Kuki”. It pointed to the separate engagement of the Zomi Council and Hmar Inpui, alongside organisations such as the Kuki Zo Council (KZC) and Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM).
The organisation asserted that KZC and KIM did not represent the Thadou, Zomi, Hmar or Mizo communities. It alleged that the two bodies represented political positions associated with Kuki identity and separatist demands. These characterisations are TIM’s claims in the statement.
TIM said the government’s approach was contrary to its position on Manipur’s territorial integrity, adding that the Thadou community should not be treated as part of a political ideology that, in its view, seeks to divide the state.
The organisation referred to a Joint Covenant of Community Understanding signed in Imphal on August 6, 2025, between TIM and several organisations representing the Meetei community, including COCOMI, AMUCO, FOCS and Arambai Tenggol.
According to TIM, the agreement was intended to promote peaceful coexistence between communities. It said the understanding should be recognised and strengthened across Manipur.
TIM added that, to its knowledge, no similar agreement had been reached between the organisations involved and Zomi, Hmar, Mizo or Kuki civil society organisations.
The statement also said TIM had learnt that Thadou and other individuals identifying as Kuki, Zomi, Hmar and Mizo had begun visiting Imphal for transit, medical treatment and other purposes.
TIM said these visits were taking place without its knowledge, coordination or authorisation. It expressed concern about the situation when such movements were facilitated by the state government or political parties.
The organisation clarified that neither it nor other Manipur civil society organisations had an organisational association with these visits. It also said it would not be responsible for the personal conduct or movements of the individuals concerned.
TIM said some Thadou individuals had been advocating a Union Territory or separate administration under the name “Kuki” or “Kuki-Zo”. It maintained that these individuals did not represent the Thadou community or the organisation.
To affirm what it describes as the distinct Thadou identity, TIM said it had issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) requiring registration through its online portal, www.thadou.com.
The organisation said the registration process was intended to distinguish the Thadou community from political movements associated with Kuki separatist demands.
TIM reiterated its commitment to dialogue and peace, maintaining that the Thadou community should be represented through the organisation rather than by what it called proxies or self-appointed representatives.
The statement comes amid continuing debates over community identity, political representation and the terms used in peace initiatives in Manipur. TIM’s assertions about the representation and political positions of other organisations reflect its stated position and have not been independently established in the material provided.
