Thadou Inpi, MA agree on collaborative approach
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 07 2025: The Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance have agreed to adopt a collaborative approach and initiate community action to address specific genuine concerns of the communities of Manipur and the larger collective interest of Manipur.

A pivotal meeting on 'Community Understanding for Peaceful and Harmonious Co-existence in Manipur' was held today between delegates of Thadou Inpi Manipur (the apex body of Thadou community in the State of Manipur) and Meitei Alliance (a consortium representing various Meitei organizations based outside Manipur) .

Thadou Inpi, MA agree on collaborative approach

After the meeting, the Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance issued a joint press statement highlighting six key points of agreement including preservation and promotion of Manipur as a cohesive and harmonious multi-ethnic society with a sense of unity, integrity, peace, respect and safety among all members of the society.

Collaborative approach and community action to address specific genuine concerns of the communities of Manipur and the larger collective interest of Manipur.

The third point of agreement reached between the Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance is, "Recognition of the original inhabitants of Manipur including all its original communities, and updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC)" .

Delisting of vague or fake nomenclature such as "Any Kuki tribes" tribe from the Scheduled Tribes List of Manipur was another point of agreement.

The fifth point of agreement reached between the delegates was acknowledgement of the bold leadership and aspiration of Thadou Inpi Manipur to preserve and promote Thadou identity as independent and distinct from Kuki.

Joint initiatives and collective efforts to overcome community identity misidentification and misinterpretation was the sixth point of agreement reached between the Thadou Inpi Manipur and the Meitei Alliance.

Thadou Inpi Manipur was led by its president M James Thadou and Meitei Alliance was led by Sagolsem Biramani.

The discussions were enriched by the presence of eminent personalities as well, said the joint press statement.

The meeting reaffirmed the exigency of taking up initiatives towards promoting the peaceful and harmonious relationship and understanding among diverse communities that shape the cultural fabric of Manipur.

Meanwhile, the Thadou Community International has strongly denounced the death threats made by the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) against Thadou Inpi Manipur leaders ahead of the joint press conference on peaceful coexistence between the Thadou tribe and Meiteis.

The press conference held at Vishwa Yuwa Kendra, New Delhi, was a collaborative effort to foster mutual respect and peaceful dialogue between the two communities.

Any attempt to silence these efforts through death threats or intimidation is unacceptable and highly condemnable, said a press release issued by the Thadou Community International.

It said that these threats jeopardize lives and seek to derail vital peace efforts.

"We urge the authorities in Manipur, currently under President's Rule, to take decisive action against those responsible in order to ensure the safety of all those involved in peace efforts.

Swift and firm legal action is necessary to prevent further attempts to disrupt peace", it said.

Asserting that UKNA shall be held accountable for any harm to Thadou leaders, the Thadou Community International said that it will explore all legal and diplomatic channels to ensure justice prevails.

It then called upon all peace-loving individuals, organizations, and authorities to unite in rejecting violence but stand firm against any attempts to divide communities.

"Let us work collectively towards a future where dialogue and cooperation triumph over fear and intimidation", it said.

The Thadou Community International categorically reiterated that 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 misportrays Thadou as Kuki or a part of Kuki is illegitimate and does not represent Thadou people and interest, it added.