Thadou students welcome proposed NRC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 30 2023: The Thadous are not afraid of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and does not oppose NRC as long as it is guaranteed to be done fairly to include all Indian citizens in Manipur, without targeting or being biased against any particular community, said the Thadou Students' Association (TSA) .

A joint statement issued by the TSAs based in several States (Delhi and NCR, Bengaluru, Assam-Dima Hasao, Guwahati, Haflong, Harangajao, Karbi-Anglong, Mahur, Mizoram, Telengana,) today said the association condemns all forms of violence against innocent civilians and it is not against the NRC, proposed to be implemented in Manipur by the Meiteis and Nagas.

"Thadous, the largest tribe of Manipur duly recognised by India and Manipur Governments in 1956 simultaneously with all other existing indigenous tribes of the State, are not afraid of the much-hyped National Register of Citizens (NRC), which has been strongly demanded by the Meiteis and the Nagas.

We are not opposed to NRC as long as it is guaranteed to be done fairly to include all Indian citizens in Manipur, without targeting or being biased against any particular community.

Concerned groups must be taken into confidence before the exercise is taken up for free, fair and successful implementation," the joint statement read.

TSA said it has been closely monitoring and observing the incidents unfolding in Manipur ever since the conflict erupted on May 3 and is seriously perturbed by how the Thadous in Manipur have been severely affected.

"Even as we are engaged in relief work, we have not issued a public statement on the current crisis until now for the sake of 'Zo' tribal unity within the community.

However, the unfolding situation has compelled us to make this joint public statement to express our grave concerns and position on the current crisis, which has caused untold miseries, sufferings and the devastating socioeconomic impacts on all victims," it said.

Sharing the pain and grief of all innocent victims, TSA said it condemns in the strongest term all incidents and all forms of violence on all innocent victims, including the latest incident in the adjoining areas of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts on August 29 where two people were killed and seven persons were injured.

"We also condemn the burning down of TSA registered office at Haokip Veng, Palace Compound, Mahaballi Road in Imphal on May 4, and the arson on the house of TSAGHQ's secretary general, Michael Lamjathang Haokip, at Peniel village in Churachandpur by some heavily-armed miscreants on the night of May 7," TSA said.

All the people of Manipur and India should be ashamed that many incidents of the most horrible, inhumane and gruesome violence and crimes have taken place in Manipur in this conflict which has seen many killed, tens of thousands of people displaced, thousands of homes burnt down and hundreds of places of worships burnt or destroyed.

Attacks on Thadou dominated areas in Imphal valley areas must be immediately controlled by security forces and Meitei CSOs.

Responsible Meitei CSOs must rein in Meitei mobs or miscreants from carrying out further attacks, it said.

Further, the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), the highly regarded body of the Meiteis committed to protecting the integrity of the State, has repeatedly issued statements on narco-terrorists and illegal immigrants.

COCOMI should clarify and explicitly expound as to whom they are referring to as narco-terrorists and illegal immigrants, it said.

"The Manipur Government has already set up a Cabinet Sub-Committee to identify and monitor people who crossed the Myanmar border to take refuge in Manipur due to the military coup in Myanmar.

Those refugees have been sheltered in Government-run-and-monitored camps in the border town, Moreh until they can safely return to their homes.

"COCOMI is expected to be more sensitive and cautious in this matter and refrain from issuing sensitive statements that can be viewed as targeting indigenous tribal communities of Manipur, including the Thadou tribe, who have stood up to protect the State throughout history," it said.

"The declaration of 7th April as the State Level "Hun-Thadou Cultural Festival" by the Manipur Government from this year as State's Restricted Holiday and its grand celebration on April 18 and 19, 2023 at Kangpokpi endorse and reaffirm the indigeneity, nativity and citizenship of the Thadou tribe in Manipur," TSA said.

Manipur is home to most of the Thadous since "time immemorial," said TSA.

"The repeated special mention of the great warrior Pu Khotinthang Sitlhou (Jampipa/Chief of Jampi, Tamenglong) by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji during their recent visits to the State on various occasions is a significant acknowledgement at the highest level of the Thadou people's contribution to India's freedom struggle and that they are undeniably true citizens of India and indigenous people of Manipur.

It may be mentioned that Pu Khotinthang was the great leader of Indian Thadou freedom fighters in The Thadou Gaal (War), 1917-1919," TSA said.

Meanwhile, safety and security of innocent and civilian populations must be the priority of both the Centre and the State Government.

The Government must be more proactive in its efforts to protect civilians and its dealing with the crisis and do more to enhance and accelerate relief and rehabilitation works to meet the needs of all the affected people, said TSA, appealing for a concrete roadmap for bringing a permanent solution.

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