Imphal, September 1: The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), the apex body for the Thadou tribal community, has submitted an urgent 35-page memorandum to the Government of India and state governments of Manipur and Assam, demanding the immediate termination of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, TIM said today.
The memorandum began by explaining the Thadou distinct identity, asserting that Thadou is neither Kuki nor under Kuki, but a separate, independent ethnic group. It cited the history of the Thadou tribal community as a peaceful society, which was disrupted by the “rise of a radical Kuki supremacy ideology” beginning in the 1970s and the subsequent emergence of Kuki militancy in the late 1980s. It emphasizes that the term “Kuki” is a “colonial construct” not accepted by the indigenous tribes of Manipur and Assam, the TIM statement also said. In Myanmar, the Chin ethnic group includes 53 subgroups, one of which is the Thadou, recognized there as an indigenous ethnic group with its own ethnic population/census code (427) under the broader Chin category, it further said. In contrast, “Kuki” is not a recognized ethnic group and has no historical standing in that country, the memorandum added.
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The petition articulates that the SoO agreement has been a complete failure, serving only to empower Kuki militants to carry out widespread violence, persecution, jihadist-influenced Kuki supremacist ideology, and criminal activities against the Thadou people, the statement said. It explained that the agreement has provided a de facto political cover for these groups to operate with impunity, creating a parallel government, state of lawlessness and undermining democratic institutions. It discussed that Kuki “supremacists” are engaged in a systematic campaign of “cultural genocide” against Thadou and to appropriate the Thadou identity. The petition further cited the roles and modus operandi of the radical Kuki supremacist network that consists of Kuki SoO groups, particularly the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), Kuki civil society organisations like Kuki Inpi, Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), and Kuki churches like the Kuki Christian Council (KCC) and Kuki Worship Service (KWS), being the key drivers of hate campaigns, and violent Kuki supremacist agendas and policies. It named key individuals, including Dr. T. Lunkim, “supremo” of Kuki Christian Church (KCC), Dr T.L. Angam Haokip, Pastor Onkho Haokip, Pastor Demlal Haokip, P.S. Haokip, president of Kuki National Organisation (KNO), and Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip, among others, as promoters of this divisive ideology, which spreads hatred and incites violence. The ideology is linked to the “Any Kuki tribes” of 2003, which is a movement for political control and wealth.
The memorandum then said a policy of appeasement that favours one group over another has proven counterproductive and must stop. “The longstanding grievances of the Thadou Christian tribal community, who have been persecuted by Kuki supremacist groups, and do not have a single armed group, must be addressed urgently. Failure to do so sends a dangerous message that violence and armed militancy are the only ways to get justice and attention from the Government of India”, it added.
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The memorandum discussed how Kuki militant groups have subverted democratic processes, engaging in widespread electoral malpractice, booth capturing, voter intimidation, and forced bloc voting, which has effectively disenfranchised the Thadous and others. It also highlighted financial crimes, including the misuse of public funds intended for welfare and development, through links between government officials, politicians, and the SoO militant groups. It further highlighted the militants’ involvement in cross-border terrorism, arms smuggling and the recruitment of youth for proxy militant outfits, citing as an example the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B), which is an extension of the Churachandpur-based KNO/KNA, a SoO group.
The SoO agreement has facilitated a significant increase in poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, leading to widespread drug abuse among youth and severe environmental damage, the TIM statement said. Manipur has become a major hub for the illegal drug trade, comparable to the ‘Golden Triangle’, and the SoO militants are key players in this network, it added.
It also highlighted the militants’ involvement in cross-border terrorism, arms smuggling and the recruitment of youth for proxy militant outfits, citing as an example the Kuki National Army-Burma (KNA-B), which is an extension of the Churachandpur-based KNO/KNA, a SoO group. The SoO agreement has facilitated a significant increase in poppy cultivation and drug trafficking, leading to widespread drug abuse among youth and severe environmental damage. Manipur has become a major hub for the illegal drug trade, comparable to the ‘Golden Triangle’, and the SoO militants are key players in this network, the TIM memorandum also said.
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The memorandum discussed “breaches” of the SoO ground rules, noting the direct involvement of Kuki SoO militants in the Manipur violence. For example, on May 3, 2023, KNO cadres led by Deputy C-in-C Mr. Thenthang Haokip (aliases Thahpi/Thangboi) and his subordinates, who were armed with assault rifles, actively participated in the violence at Torbung-Bangla, targeting civilians. Further, it highlighted possible links between Kuki groups and anti-India separatist groups and agendas, for example, Kuki groups outside of India, allied with pro-Khalistan separatists in Canada during the peak of the India-Canada diplomatic dispute in August 2023. There was a viral video showing a NAMTA leader delivering an anti-India speech at the Surrey Gurdwara, as they sought support from these groups in the ongoing Manipur violence. Publications like Zalengam: The Kuki Nation, written by KNO President P.S. Haokip, promote ideas of Kuki sovereignty, supremacy, and radicalism. This contributes to a deep-seated ideological indoctrination, which could be a factor in the prolonged violence in Manipur, the TIM memorandum added.
The memorandum asserted that the SoO agreements are fundamentally flawed and unconstitutional, posing a grave threat to the state’s authority, noting that the agreements are indefinite and lack a clear exit strategy, while also granting militant groups undue power through their presence on the Joint Monitoring Group. This has enabled Kuki SoO militants to act with impunity, committing a range of crimes without fear of consequences, it added.
The document presented a grim list of recent atrocities committed by Kuki militant groups. It detailed an organized campaign of social boycotts, threats, and illegal edicts issued by Kuki SoO-backed Kuki CSOs and churches against the Thadou community, especially targeting those who have advocated for peace and reconciliation. A key example cited is the murder of Nehkam Jomhao, Chairman of Thadou Literature Society, who was brutally tortured and murdered by Kuki militants, KRA and UKDA at his Manja village in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on August 30, 2025, simply because he stood up for Thadou identity and peace, it said. The existence of SoO militant groups is a serious threat to the rule of law and the constitutional integrity of India, and its termination is necessary to restore civil society, uphold democratic principles, and ensure the safety and human rights of the Thadou and other affected people, the memorandum stated.
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The petition concluded with an urgent appeal to the Indian Government and state governments of Manipur and Assam to take decisive action to correct these “past policy errors” and to abrogate the agreement immediately. “For over 20 years, the SoO Agreement has failed to achieve its primary objective of peace and stability. Instead, it has become a cover for terrorist activities, criminal, political, and secessionist agendas, systematically persecuting the Thadou community, subverting democratic processes, and openly defying India’s integrity through violence”, the TIM memorandum said.
The memorandum was addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. It was also copied to AK Mishra, Adviser (North East), MHA, Government of India, and Tapan Deka, Director, Intelligence Bureau, MHA, Government of India, among others.
(Newmai News Network)