Imphal, August 6: For the first time since ethnic violence engulfed Manipur on May 3, 2023, leaders of the Thadou community and Meitei civil society groups came together in Imphal on Wednesday for a closed-door meeting aimed at breaking the silence and rebuilding trust.
The meeting, which came just a day after the federal government extended President’s Rule in the state by another six months, marked a tentative but symbolically important step toward peace.
A 16-member delegation from Thadou Inpi Manipur, the apex body representing the Thadou community, a subgroup within the larger Kuki-Zo ethnicity, flew into Bir Tikendrajit International Airport early Wednesday morning. They were received by members of the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a prominent Meitei civil society platform, along with state police officials.
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The meeting, held at a hotel in the city, brought together representatives from COCOMI, the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), the Federation of Civil Societies (FOCS), Arambai Tenggol, and student bodies. Sources familiar with the discussion said the focus remained firmly on pathways to peace and the rehabilitation of internally displaced persons on both sides of the divide.
This was the first visit by Thadou representatives to the state capital since May 3, 2023, the day violence broke out between Meitei and Kuki-Zo groups, leading to months of bloodshed, displacement, and political paralysis.
While participants were tight-lipped about the specifics of the discussion, several described the atmosphere as “cautiously constructive,” with a second round of talks under consideration.
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In a statement released after the meeting, Thadou Inpi Manipur criticized what it called the cultural “appropriation” of Thadou identity by groups identifying as Kuki — a long-simmering point of contention within the broader tribal coalition. The group distanced itself from what it described as the “flawed Kuki ideology” and reaffirmed its commitment to lawful and inclusive dialogue aimed at preserving indigenous rights.
“This is not about taking sides,” said one participant who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It’s about breaking a silence that has lasted too long, and about seeing each other face to face, not as enemies, but as people who want peace.”