TSA calls for ending violence, not averse to NRC
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 30 2023: Expressing grave concern over the on going violence in the state which has caused untold miseries, sufferings and devastated socio-economy of all, the victims in the particular, Thadou Students' Association (TSA) has appealed to all to end the violence and come together with an open mind for resolving the conflict without any further delay.

TSA also said that both the Central and state governments must work out a concrete roadmap for bringing immediate and permanent solution by taking into confidence all the stakeholders.

In its first public statement on the current crisis, TSA condemned in the strongest term all incidents and violence on innocent victims and shared their pain and grief including the latest incident in the adjoining areas of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts on August 29 where two people were killed and seven others were injured after a direct confrontation between the two conflicting communities.

According to a joint statement of TSA units operating in major cities across India, they have been closely monitoring the continuous conflict between Meetei and Zo communities in Manipur and are seriously perturbed by how the Thadous in Manipur have been severely affected.

For the sake of Zo' tribal unity, none of the TSA units issued public statement since the eruption of the conflict on May 3 and rather engaged in relief works.

However, the unfolding situation has compelled all the units to make the joint public statement to express grave concern and position on the current crisis.

According to the joint statement, Thadous are not opposed to the much-hyped National Register of Citizens (NRC), which is being strongly advocated by the Meeteis and the Nagas, 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.

On repeated statements of COCOMI on narco-terrorists and illegal immigrants, the TSA said that COCOMI should clarify and explicitly expound as to whom they refer to by narco-terrorists and illegal immigrants.

COCOMI being a responsible and highly regarded CSO working for protecting territorial integrity of Manipur should 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.

Moreover, repeated statements from some so-called Meetei socio-cultural organisations, spewing venoms on some indigenous communities of Manipur, is harming the social fabric of the state.

All must remember that Manipur is a multi-ethnic society and home to multi-cultural communities but not limited to the majority Meetei, Meetei Pangal and the 33 Scheduled Tribes of Manipur including Thadou and kindred tribes such as Aimol, Vaiphei, Paite, Simte, Gangte, Kom, Hmar, Mizo, etc.

The declaration of April 7 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 nativity and citizenship of the Thadou tribe in Manipur.

The esteemed presence of various guests in the festival including the Governor of Manipur, chief minister N Biren and his council of ministers, MLAs and Union Tribal Affairs Minister was another testament to the indigenousness of Thadou tribe in Manipur.

It is also to be noted that Manipur is home to most of the Thadous since time immemorial but there are also Thadou population in other parts of the country and around the world, and they are citizens or legal residents in their respective places of residence.

The same is true with Meetei or any other community of Manipur, who live in other places as well.

There should never be an issue.

In the midst of the ongoing Manipur crisis, Thadous are not part of any of the anti-India protest or political demonstrations within the country or in some foreign countries but rather support peaceful solidarity gathering or assemblies aimed to bring and restore normalcy in the state.

Thadous share the concerns about the tragic situation in Manipur and appreciate the sympathy shown by like-minded people from within and across the world.

Thadou people remain one of the most affected and vulnerable victim communities in the present conflict, given the geographical location of settlements in the adjoining areas of the hills and the valley and being sandwiched between the Meeteis and the Nagas.

Despite countless attacks on many innocent Thadous and their villages, Thadous have not reacted offensively safeguarding their villages and residences as the community seek justice and peace through non-violence, the joint statement said.

It further stressed that the safety and security 01 innocent and civilian populations must be the priority of both the Central and state governments.

Sincere efforts should be put in to recover the looted arms from various armouries of the state security forces in the valley areas, which are reportedly used to attack areas inhabited by the Thadous and other kindred tribes of Manipur, it added.

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