TSA urges deletion of Any Kuki Tribe from ST list
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 30 2024: Thadou Students' Association (TSA) has issued a strong rebuttal against a statement purportedly released by the 'so-called Churachandpur-based' Thadou Tribe Council (TTC) on July 21, and reiterated the stand that Thadou was never part of Kuki Inpi along with calling for removing Any Kuki Tribe (AKT) from the ST list of the state.

TSA condemned the unnamed and unsigned statement issued on the letterhead of the "non-existent TTC", calling it repugnant and a direct attack on the Thadou tribe and two distinguished members of Thadou community.

In a statement, TSA contended that TTC is a fake organisation created by some unscrupulous individuals, including the terminated president Yamthong, at the behest of anti-Thadou elements with Kuki supremacy agendas.

TSA had previously addressed similar statements from this fake TTC, emphasising that this organisation does not represent the Thadou tribe.

TSA finds the claim by the "fake TTC" of being affiliated with Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) bizarre and misleading, maintained the statement, while reminding that as per the Thadou Conclave 2015, the Thadou tribe, its apex body Thadou Inpi, or any Thadou organisation is not part of Kuki Inpi Manipur or any organisation under it.

Affirming that the declaration remains in force, it said Kuki Inpi is described by TSA as the apex body of the Any Kuki tribes (AKT), a fake universal tribe created through fraudulent means in 2003, with a population of 28,342 as per the 2011 Manipur census.

TSA also referred to threats by the fake TTC against Jalun Haokip and Michael Lam-jathang Haokip for expressing their opinions, saying it interprets such intimidations as another desperate attempt by anti-Thadou propagandists to spread misinformation and hate speech against the Thadou tribe and its champions.

The mention of arson at Michael Lamjathang's house in Churachandpur in 2023, before the outbreak of the Manipur violence, suggests that those issuing the statement may have been involved or aware of the crime, warranting prosecution as part of the investigation.

TSA questioned the outrage over Jalun Haokip's social media post about the Manipur violence that broke out on May 3, 2023, and Michael Lam-jathang's post stating "Thadou ho Kuki ahipoi" (Thadous are not Kuki).

It argued that these posts are factual and truth-telling, and asserted that since the creation of the fake Any Kuki tribes in 2003, Kuki as a collective nomenclature of multiple tribes is invalid.

TSA also emphasised that the concept of Kuki as a body of two or more tribes is dead and non-existent since Kuki was converted into a single tribe in 2003 for personal wealth creation and political control.

Therefore, it is self-explanatory that the Thadou tribe, or any other tribe, cannot be under Kuki.

There is a growing 'Me/We Too Not Kuki' movement among Thadou people, highlighting the rejection of Kuki-Zo terminology which is unacceptable to most Zo people, including Thadous, Mizos, Zomis, and Hmars.

The term Kuki is believed to have derogatory connotations, and the AKT is seen as a threat to all native and indigenous people of Manipur, TSA maintained and called for the removal of AKT from the list of scheduled tribes of Manipur and support the Manipur government's decision to delete AKT.

TSA expressed that Thadous, being caught in the violence, are the biggest silent victims, with Kuki supremacists exploiting the situation to advance their agenda against the Thadou and other kindred tribes.

Thadous are coerced into rejecting their identity and proclaiming themselves as Kuki, while simultaneously being mocked and killed under this identity.

In conclusion, TSA urged the fake TTC and other organisations or individuals to cease spreading lies and promoting anti-Thadou agendas and violent rhetoric.

TSA remains resolute in the strength of their community, striving for mutual respect, justice, and peaceful political solutions, the statement added.

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