UKHRUL: Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) on Friday urged the cancellation of a proposed nationwide rally called by Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) on May 30, stating that the deaths of three recently slain church leaders should not be politicised or used to advance what it termed a “Kuki political agenda.”
In a media release, TIM objected to KIM’s description of the deceased as “Kuki-Zo church leaders,” reiterating that the three were Thadou pastors and church leaders affiliated with the Thadou Baptist Association India and belonged to the Thadou community.
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“Their lives, service, and sacrifice must be honoured with dignity and truth, free from political appropriation, identity distortion, or competing ethnic narratives,” TIM stated.
The organisation maintained that the Thadou people possess a distinct ethnic, cultural, linguistic and historical identity separate from the Kuki identity, and said the legacy of the deceased leaders should not be subsumed under what it described as a “fictitious umbrella identity” such as “Kuki” or “Kuki-Zo” without the consent of the Thadou community and its institutions.
Referring to the recent killing of the three church leaders, TIM noted that the Government of Manipur has handed over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). It appealed to all stakeholders to allow the legal process to proceed without interference, speculation or attempts to influence public opinion through political mobilisation.
The organisation alleged that the proposed rally reflected a recurring pattern of exploiting public sentiment and the suffering of the Thadou community to advance “radical Kuki political ideology” at the expense of Thadou identity and interests.
TIM also criticised the annual observance of “Kuki Black Day” on September 13 and the commemoration of May 3 as “Kuki Separation Day,” alleging that speeches, songs and rhetoric associated with these events have promoted communal narratives and fostered hostility towards other communities.
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Expressing concern over what it termed “Kuki-supremacist messages,” TIM claimed such narratives have been used to encourage sections of the Thadou community to abandon their distinct identity and adopt an exclusive allegiance to the Kuki identity.
The organisation appealed to Thadou individuals, churches, youth bodies, community organisations and leaders not to participate in any rally or programme that seeks to politicise the deaths of the church leaders or portray them in a manner inconsistent with their Thadou identity.
It further called on all organisations, churches, civil society groups and community leaders to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, accusations and actions that could deepen mistrust among communities.
“At this sensitive time, responsible leadership demands restraint, wisdom, maturity and commitment to peace,” the statement said.
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Reaffirming its commitment to justice and peaceful coexistence, TIM said it supports dialogue, reconciliation and constructive engagement among Thadou, Zomi, Mizo, Hmar, Naga, Meitei and other communities. It stressed that lasting peace can only be achieved through mutual respect, recognition of distinct identities and adherence to the rule of law.
The Thadou Inpi Manipur then appealed to all stakeholders to support the ongoing NIA investigation, reject the politicisation of the tragedy, respect the distinct identity of the Thadou people and work towards restoring peace and normalcy in the region.