TSA's peace call irks CoTU
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, December 27 2023:
Incensed with the Thadou Students' Association-General Headquarter's call for peace between the two warring communities, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), Sadar Hills has termed it irresponsible and out of line.
The TSA-GHQ's gesture is nothing but a "desperate quest for its relevancy" and a "mere despicable act" to the frontrunners of the Kuki society, said the Committee.
In a rebuttal, CoTU said it has been working tirelessly for the safety and security of the Kuki-Zo people, "but to our dismay, the TSA calling for peace between the two warring communities in the State has created confusion leaving the general public exasperated" .
It pointed out that Thadou and Kuki are "indistinguishable", the former being "one of the Kuki tribes" while the latter is a "nomenclature although it needs no deciphering" .
CoTU slammed TSA's gesture as "preposterous and unwarranted" / "Whatever the intention the TSA-General Headquarters has in its depository will not bode well for peace but will instead widen a chasm of misunderstanding and ill-feeling within the Kuki-Zo people," said CoTU.
CoTU also stated that there have been times during social unrest when "directionless Kuki-Zo organizations and persons with vested interests have strayed from our cause, stooping so low by wreaking havoc detrimental to the people's movement, which is neither people's mandate nor representative of the Kuki-Zo community.
"While we are spearheading the cause for the Kuki-Zo people in the communal flare-up spanning eight months now, we will no longer tolerate such press statements, hate campaigns, or anti-social pursuits in any form that might disorient us from reaching our common goal or which could pave way for any signs of discord among our people," said CoTU.
It advised the TSA-General Headquarters to "withdraw" its press statement calling for peace at the earliest and appealed to the executive members of the TSA Sadar Hills representing TSA-General Headquarters to take the initiative to expedite the withdrawal of the TSA-General Headquarters' press statement.
It cautioned that any untoward incident arising out of non-compliance will draw "severe reprisal" and CoTU shall not be held accountable.
It also appealed and forewarned any entrenched interests and groups to "desist from sowing the seeds of animus among the Kuki-Zo people during this moment of truth" .