TCI rejects KNF's statement
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 06 2024: Reacting sharply to SoO group Kuki National Front (KNF)'s statement against the declaration of the Thadou Convention 2024, the Thadou Community International (TCI) reiterated that Thadou is not Kuki but an ethnic group of Manipur.

Informing all concerned that TCI was formed on August 3, 2024 with the participation of Thadou people living in different parts of the world including Manipur, which is home to the Thadou, a TCI statement said Thadou people suffered and were victimised the most in the present crisis in Manipur.

With Thadou people silenced and none to highlight their plight, the need for a platform to raise the voice of the suppressed Thadous was immensely felt, leading to the formation of TCI to preserve and protect the non-negotiable Thadou distinct identity, culture, customs, traditions, costumes.

Addressing the issues raised by the KNF regarding TCI's stance on the distinct identity of Thadou and not belonging to Kuki, the statement said that TCI is glad to know that KNF is keen on envisaging their idea of inclusivity of pan-Kuki where there is no subjugation of any tribe by any means or method.

However, the allegation that declaration of Thadou not being Kuki as an attempt to divide the community, is without any merit or basis.

On the contrary, it is an open secret that Kuki organisations are dominated and run by Thadou speaking people who have dissociated themselves from Thadou tribe, clinging onto the new fake tribe called Any Kuki Tribes (AKT) that was fraudulently added to the list of Scheduled Tribes of Manipur in 2003 for political reasons.

Kuki is not accepted by any of the non-Naga tribes in the state of Manipur, except AKT.

The irony is that the very people who claimed to represent the Thadou tribe are now indulging in suppressing the voice of self-assertion in the name of faux unity.

The idea of Kuki being an umbrella organisation of kindred tribes had dissipated and became irrelevant long time ago and it remains a utopian dream.

So, there is no question of an attempt to cause any division within any community.

The only Kuki that remains today is AKT.

The sooner this is accepted the better it will be for all.

It is an undeniable fact that kindred tribes like Paite, Vaiphei, Zou, Simte, etc., have identified themselves under the collective nomenclature Zomi, which is not a tribe, or the name of a particular tribe.

Tribes under the collective Zomi nomenclature and Hmar tribe all exist as distinct independent tribes but not Kuki.

There is no logic for an independent ethnic tribe to be under another tribe, that too, a fake one, like the AKT, the TCI statement added.

In its reply to the KNF statement that 'Kuki-Zo' people cannot get a Separate Administration from Manipur other than in the name of Kuki, the TCI pointed out that the term 'Kuki-Zo' is ambiguous as it deviates from the unilateral stance of one Kuki as it does not define the components of the two hyphenated words.

Further, the Zomi, Hmar and Mizo brethren do not accept the post-May 3, 2023 term 'Kuki-Zo', which is construed to represent only Kuki, an apparent attempt to elevate the stature of Kuki equal to the broader term 'Zo'.

According to the TCI, the quest for peace for Thadou people will continue for all-round development of the Thadou people.

It continued that conflicts between nations or communities do occur in various parts of the world.

However, there comes a time for reconciliation as there can be no progress and development without any solution.

All the affected communities have to find the path to resolve the current crisis in Manipur through non-violent means.

It is understandable that KNF is for a separate administration in the name of Kuki but TCI being an apolitical organisation have no political interest or agenda against the political demands of any organisation.

Taking strong exception to the line in the KNF's statement that translates as 'We are currently still fighting a war, we don't want to take extreme actions or kidnapping, death penalty, etc., within the community', the TCI said KNF's statement implies threats and intimidation against Thadous to denounce their distinct identity from Kuki, but to be Kuki or accept Kuki, or else they will face dire consequences.

This statement is uncalled for in a civilized society.

Threats and intimidation may deter people but the determination and ideology will not vanish without leaving a mark.

Rampant and widespread Kuki supremacy, intimidation, suppression, coercion, control, human rights violations and extreme actions like physical violence and death penalty by Kuki militants and Kuki supremacists against Thadou was the very reason why declaration was made.

We would appreciate if the KNF and other Kuki militant groups respect the rights of Thadous with full dignity as a distinct identity, the TCI maintained adding that Kuki supremacy or any supremacist agenda is against the law of the land and Indian Constitution which guarantee the right to live with dignity under Article 21 .

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