Condemnation against killing of woman in Bishnupur
- November 10th, 2024 :: Thadou Community International (TCI) -

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Thadou Community International (TCI) vehemently condemns the killing of a woman farmer, namely Sapam Ongbi Sonia Devi, belonging to Meitei community, at Saitol village in Bishnupur district on Saturday, November 9, 2024 by suspected Kuki armed militants.

It is very unfortunate to witness fresh violence in Manipur after a period of lull for the last few months. The most recent killing at Saiton happened a couple of days after the attack on Zairon Hmar village in Jiribam on November 7, where a woman named Sangkim, was killed by suspected Meitei militants.

TCI would like to see justice in both cases and greater concerted efforts by both Central and State government authorities to prevent similar incidents, otherwise the situation could get out of control leading to large-scale violence throughout the state again. This fresh violence signals the need for more and all out collaborative efforts by government authorities, community leaders and general public from all affected communities to work together for lasting peace.

It is a matter of shame for our nation, India, that this violence in Manipur is continuing at the cost of innocent victims and India as a nation. It is most unfortunate that the tiny state of Manipur, with a total population of about 30 lakhs, was yet to recover from several ethnic violence in the past during the 1990s between different groups, when the current violence broke out on May 3, 2023 in areas adjoining Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts.

As a multi-ethnic society, people of Manipur, irrespective of communities, must realize the futility of violence and raise our voice and join hands together against the violence, otherwise the future is bleak for everyone. Blaming one another and trying to garner support of someone else or some other groups against each other, but without a solution, will not do any good for us now and the future generations.

We cannot, and should not, expect or wait for others to bring peace for us while allowing the violence to continue, bringing more and more harm to our own society, our own people. Nobody loses but only us, people of Manipur as a society.

We all must ask ourselves if this is the kind of legacy we want to leave for our future generations. There is no society where there is no disagreements or conflict of interests, but a society progresses and thrives well where members of the society resolve conflicts without resorting to violence and learn to live with each other peacefully with a sense of respect, understanding and common sense for common good.

With courage, wisdom and vision, let us all stand up and say enough is enough to violence and killing, and let peace reign once again in our society.

Statement: “Thadou is a distinct ethnic group of people. Thadou is not Kuki, or underneath Kuki, or part of Kuki, but a separate, independent entity from Kuki. Any organisation that incorporates “Thadou” but espouses Kuki and mis- portrays Thadou as Kuki or a part of Kuki is illegitimate and does not represent Thadou people and interest” – Thadou Convention 2024.

Issued by:
Thadou Community International