Kuki supremacy
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: August 29, 2024 -

The recent incident of gun attack and vandalism at the house of Michael Lamjathang Haokip, who is not only a leader of the Thadou community but also a spokesperson of the BJP Manipur Pradesh, has once again revealed the widening deep divide within the Kuki-Chin communities.

The fact that the incident had occurred just hours after Michael Lamjathang Haokip participated in a discussion programme on the topic "Kuki Supremacy and its agenda" broadcast by an Imphal-based news cable TV network on August 25 night also seems to have confirmed what the Thadou Community International (TCI), a newly floated global platform of Thadou community, has been talking about the "human rights abuses perpetrated by Kuki supremacists against the Thadou community," which are "widespread and rampant, yet often go unnoticed".

Prior to this incident, not many people knew about the danger being faced not just by the smaller ethnic communities but also by relatively larger communities like Thadou, who wish to keep their respective ethnic aspirations and identifies intact and not be forcefully included under some common nomenclatures like Kuki-Chin, Kuki-Zo or simply Kuki.

So, it has come as a big surprise to many people to know that the August 25 night incident was the second such gun attack carried out in Churachandpur district's Peniel village residence of Michael Lamjathang Haokip for his role as a vocal leader of the Thadou community; the first attack, involving arson and gunfire by suspected armed Kuki militants, taking place on May 6, 2023, shortly after the outbreak of ongoing conflict between the Meeteis/Meiteis and Kuki-Chin in Churachandpur on May 3, 2023.

Apart from these two incidents, he also reportedly survived an assassination attempt in Churachandpur on April 28, 2023.

All these incidents speak volumes about the danger of Kuki supremacy and its agenda that the Thadou Community International (TCI) has been trying to highlight for the global community to wake up to.

As expected, Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh has condemned the gun attack at the house of Lamjathang Haokip.

Terming it as a direct challenge to the unity and integrity of Manipur, the Chief Minister has also assured that legal action will be initiated against the perpetrators.

Taking to the micro-blogging site, X, Chief Minister Biren said, "The attack on the family members of Michael Lamjathang, a leader of the Thadou community, one of the oldest among the ethnic tribes of Manipur as well as a BJP spokesperson, by vandalising his house was an act of cowardice. I consider this personal harm on one of our recognised tribes as a direct challenge to the unity and the integrity of the state. Attacks on any particular community of the recognised tribes of Manipur as well as the attack on the family of the BJP spokesperson are condemned in the strongest terms."

We say that the condemnation from the side of Chief Minister N Biren Singh is expected as the attack and vandalism at the house of Lamjathang Haokip has come at a time when he is making effort to bridge the gap by inviting some individuals from the Thadou community to the capital city Imphal, which has practically remained off-limits for the Kuki-Chin people since the ethnic conflict broke on May 3 last year.

The Chief Minister had revealed this plan in the state assembly earlier this month and taken the House into confidence of the efforts being made to resolve the nearly 16-month long ethnic crisis.

Now that Chief Minister N Biren Singh has not only condemned the gun attack at Michael Lamjathang Haokip's house but also termed it as a direct challenge to the unity and integrity of Manipur, all we have to do is wait for the reaction to know the identity of those wielding the fire and muscle power of Kuki supremacy.