TIM condemns
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2025: The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) is appalled by the continued persecution of the Thadou tribal Christian community by various Kuki groups, including Kuki Churches and civil society organizations, said the body reacting to "social boycott and ostracization" of Thadou individuals in Shillong.

The "social boycott and ostracization" of the Thadou individuals in Shillong by the Kuki Worship Service (KWS), Kuki Inpi Meghalaya, and the Kuki Students' Organization (KSO) was announced through a public notification on August 20, said TIM in a statement.

Further, the families of the persecuted Thadou individuals were coerced to disown them via a public announcement the following day, TIM added.

This targeted action followed the refusal of two Thadou individuals, Jamkholun Haokip and Nehkholal Haokip, to heed to a summon from the Kuki organizations, which hold no authority over them, it said.

TIM said the two individuals were part of the delegates that attended "Road to Peace" community understanding meeting between the Thadou and Meitei communities in Imphal on August 6, 2025 .

The affected Thadou families are victims of the Kuki-Meitei violence in Manipur and are currently living in Shillong as internally displaced persons (IDPs), it added.

The two individuals have been punished by the Kuki bodies for attending the meeting in Imphal.

The meeting was a genuine dialogue between the Thadou and Meitei communities, led by TIM and valley-based civil society organizations, including COCOMI, AMUCO, and others, said TIM.

The Thadou delegation was not representative of the Kuki community in the meeting.

Thadou is not Kuki, despite continued attempts to impose the term 'Kuki' on Thadou and other indigenous tribes of Manipur, TIM asserted.

Accusing Kuki groups of continuing with their hate-filled, illegal, and terror activities against the Thadou community in full disregard for peace and communal harmony, TIM said that the organized hatred and radicalism among so-called Kukis, even from religious groups outside of Manipur, exposes an extremist ideological entity that seeks to establish hegemony over others.

There have been too many incidents of hate speeches and violent rhetoric regularly floating on various social media platforms, with some Kukis openly calling for lethal attacks on leaders and members of the Thadou community, including young children.

This growing extremist or terror network is a serious cause for concern as it is anti-peace and threatens the fabric of Indian society, the Constitutional rule of law, and the norms of a civil society, TIM said.

The persecution and ostracization of the Thadou individuals now is part of a long-standing pattern of organized hatred and aggression.

"The Thadou community has been subjected to violence and threats for decades, with aggression escalating since the 1970s.Historical precedents include the actions of the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), a militant group widely known to have been sponsored by Rev Dr T Lunkim, founder of the Kuki Christian Church (KCC), to forcibly change the All-India Radio Thadou program to a Kuki program in the early 1990s," TIM said.

Today, Kuki hate-preachers and extremist Pastors regularly preach violence and supremacy from Church pulpits and online, with some individuals openly calling for widespread violence against Thadou leaders and community members contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ, TIM said.

"TIM is particularly concerned that this radical network includes individuals in positions of public trust.

Prominent Kuki hate-preachers, pseudo-Pastors, and extremist Church leaders have been identified, including Rev TL Angam Haokip, Pastor Onkho Haokip, Evangelist Paogin Haokip, and PS Haokip, the cult leader and president of the KNO, who has promoted Kuki supremacy and Kuki sovereignty country through his book Zalengam - The Kuki Nation," TIM said.

"Equally alarming is the active participation of Manipur State Government employees - such as Paominlen Haokip @ Lenin Haokip, Assistant Teacher under Sadar Hills ADC holding Kuki Inpi Manipur Legal Affairs and self-styled Evangelist-cum-freelance journalist Jangmang Haokip, Supervisor Kanungo (SK) under Land Resources Department currently posted at SDO Saitu-Gamphazo, both reportedly Government employees - in anti-State, hate speech, disinformation, and Kuki-supremacist campaigns.

The Government's failure to act against its own employees who are actively engaged in illegal activities raises serious questions about accountability and has, intentionally or not, enabled this dangerous network to grow," TIM claimed.

A careful analysis of the modus operandi and trends of deep-rooted and growing Kuki radicalism reveals that it is identical to "jihadist-influenced terrorism" in some parts of the world.

The Nation of India must address this threat with a firm political will to restore peace and stability to the region, TIM said.

"The Thadou community, which does not have its own armed group, has endured this violence for too long.

TIM urges its members to remain steadfast and consider separating themselves from Kuki social and religious groups to protect against persistent persecution," TIM urged.

The people of Manipur and all over India must recognize and condemn the dangerous Kuki supremacist activities of persecution and violent aggression, particularly against the Thadou tribal Christian community.

The Government of India and the State Government must end their Kuki appeasement policies and act decisively to stop this.

This is essential to save democracy and protect the integrity of the Nation and the State.

Failing to do so will lead to endless and violent conflicts, causing untold misery for the common people, TIM said.

Comment