Kuki Body's Diktat To MLAs In Manipur Illegal, Can Be Charged, Says Thadou Inpi Manipur
A key organisation of the indigenous distinct tribe Thadou in Manipur has condemned a Kuki tribes' body for issuing a diktat to "Kuki-Zo" MLAs not to participate in forming government in the border state, whenever it happens.
The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), which says it is the main civil body representing the Thadou tribe, said the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) can neither dictate to nor force leaders from the Thadou, Hmar, Paite, Vaiphei, Zou, or any other Zo kindred tribes to do their bidding.
According to Thadou Inpi Manipur's senior members, Kuki Inpi Manipur is not effective in Kangpokpi district, the turf of MLAs Nemcha Kipgen and Haokholet Kipgen.
"Moreover, their [Kuki Inpi Manipur's] influence doesn't count over Zomi MLAs such as Vungzagin Valte and LM Khaute, Zou tribe MLA Chinlunthang, and Hmar MLA Ngursanglur Sanate. So, under Kuki Inpi Manipur, the only MLAs left are Kimneo Haokip Hangshing, Paolienlal Haokip, and Letzamang Haokip, all belonging to Any Kuki Tribes," a senior functionary of Thadou Inpi Manipur said.
"Thadou people reside all over Manipur, vote and contest in local, state, and national elections for MDCs, MLAs, and MPs. Presently, among the 10 Zo MLAs supporting the 'SA demand in Manipur', three hold Thadou ST certificates - Nemcha Kipgen, Letpao Haokip, and Haokholet Kipgen," the Thadou Inpi Manipur said in a statement on Tuesday.
"If any of them wish to identify as Kuki, they should obtain an AKT certificate... However, no force has any right to disturb, harm, or intimidate any Thadou ST certificate holding MLAs in exercising his/her constitutional obligations such as part of formation of a popular government, as they are not Kuki but Thadou," TIM said, referring to 'Any Kuki Tribes', or AKT.
The Kuki Inpi Manipur can be charged with "criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, unlawful restraint, obstruction of public functionaries, and sedition if their acts threaten public order or constitutional governance... and undermine the sovereignty, integrity, or democratic processes of India," TIM said.
The "Kuki-Zo" nomenclature refers exclusively to individuals who subscribe to the Any Kuki Tribes (AKT) Scheduled Tribes (ST) category, while in contrast Thadou is a distinct indigenous tribe with its own constitutional recognition with a population of 2.16 lakh as per the 2011 Census and enumerated in the Census of India since 1881, consistently holding the highest population among tribal communities and ranking as the second-largest community after the Meitei in Manipur, the Thadou Inpi Manipur said.
"Neither Kuki-Zo subscribers nor Kuki Inpi Manipur hold any authority over the Thadou people or Thadou Inpi Manipur," TIM said.
TIM said it was formerly called the Thadou National Council [established in 1984] and the Thadou Tribe Council, and has "never been part of Kuki Inpi Manipur since its formation in 1993 along with its units like KSO, KKL, etc. The Thadou Conclave Delhi 2015 Declaration No. 6 explicitly disowned Kuki Inpi and its units. KIM applies only to AKT certificate holders, not Thadou in Manipur."
On Saturday last, the Kuki Inpi Manipur in a statement had said "no Kuki-Zo MLA shall participate or take part in any manner in the formation of a new popular government" in Manipur. "Under no circumstances shall the Kuki-Zo people compromise our ancestral land, culture, identity, and political, social and economic rights," the Kuki Inpi Manipur said.
The KIM marked a copy of the statement to other allied organisations of the Kuki tribes and also the two umbrella groups, Kuki National Organisation and United People's Front, which represent 25 insurgent groups that signed the suspension of operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre and the state government.
Meitei leaders have alleged Kuki insurgent groups that signed the SoO agreement have been working to strengthen themselves over the years by taking advantage of the ceasefire, until a time came to engineer a violent attack for a separate land.
While Kuki groups pointed at the ethnic clashes that began in May 2023 as the reason why they escalated their demand from an autonomous council to a separate administration, or a Union Territory with an assembly, Meitei leaders have pointed at decades-old evidence of Kuki groups working to form 'Kukiland' carved out of Manipur.
The World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) in a memorandum to Manipur's new Governor on January 15 said the Kuki tribes have been demanding a state "since 1946-47."
In the years before May 2023, Kuki protests, gatherings and panel discussions have mentioned the demand for a separate area carved out of Manipur.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Manipur violence case: SC questions delay in fresh Forensic Science Laboratory report on Biren Singh tapes
The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the delay in submission of a fresh Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report on the authenticity of some audio recordings that point to the alleged role of former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh in the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state. Raising eyebrows on the delay, a division bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma, asked the counsel for the Centre: "What happened to the forensic report? That should have come at now, the forensic report laboratory must have given you a report. At least, tell us whether the report has come or it's still in the pipeline." Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program When the counsel for the Centre replied that the report had not come yet, Justice Kumar verbally remarked: "How long does it take FSL to give a definite report on the analysis of the voice? ...this can't go on endlessly". The matter was eventually adjourned. On May 5, a division bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna had called for a fresh report after perusing the report submitted by FSL, in a sealed cover. The bench had expressed its dissatisfaction with the report and sought for a fresh report. The development took place during the resumed hearing of a plea filed by the Human Rights Trust, a Kuki organisation. In February, the top court had sought the central FSL's report on the tapes. In February, President's rule was imposed in Manipur, nearly two years after ethnic violence erupted in the state. A few days ahead of the Presidential proclamation, N Biren Singh had resigned as the CM. Live Events
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Working with rival groups dangerous: NSCN(I-M) on 10 years of peace pact
The National Socialist Council of Nagalim, also called the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (I-M), said working with the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) to find 'common ground for Naga political solution' was a dangerous proposition. The NNPG is a conglomerate of at least six Naga extremist groups opposed to the NSCN (I-M). The Centre signed the Agreed Position with the former in 2017, two years after the Framework Agreement (FA) was inked with the latter on August 3, 2015. Don't dump Kuki extremists in Naga areas, NSCN (I-M) tells BSF Q. Tuccu, the chairman of the NSCN (I-M), said the significance of the 'historic' FA lies in the government of India's recognition of the sovereign rights of the Nagas. He said the political importance of the FA defines the road to the final draft of the Naga political solution. '...we are going to give up what has been achieved... to reclaim our rightful place with sovereign right as a nation. Though the government of India is going slow under various pretexts, we have waited with our enduring commitment to stand by FA overcoming numerous challenges,' he said in a speech marking the 10th anniversary of the FA. Nagaland extremist groups to form task force to check illegal immigration amid Assam eviction drive Mr. Tuccu said the Nagas should accept their bounden duty to defend the sanctity of the FA at any cost. 'This FA symbolically acknowledged the existence of the Naga nation as testified by the recognition of the unique history of the Nagas by the Government of India on July 11, 2002, during the Indo-Naga political talks that took place in Amsterdam,' he said. Division within The NSCN (I-M) chairman said the Nagas were at the crossroads today because of divisive politics within. Calling for unity and reconciliation to achieve the common goal, he, however, said working with the NNPG was a dangerous proposition for the NSCN (I-M). He claimed that the NNPG was created by the Government of India to counterweight the bonafide leadership of the NSCN (I-M) for the Naga political solution and signed the 'deceitful' Agreed Position with them. Mr. Tuccu explained why the NSCN (I-M) cannot imagine finding common ground with the NNPGs, which the Government of India controls to propagate a political solution under the Constitution of India and undermine the rights of the Naga nation. 'Thus, Framework Agreement and Agreed Position are poles apart and we see no meeting point whatsoever,' he said, insisting that such 'treacherous' and divisive elements have been trying to make the Nagas settle for a political solution under the Constitution of India. 'Nagas shall be found wanting if we fail to defend the God-given national identity as testified before the world with the signing of the FA... Let us be serious and watchful as divisive elements are roaming around to undo the FA and thereby destroy the history of the Nagas altogether,' he said. 'We still have a long way to go before we convert the FA into something practical and not just as a political document and continue working on the competency to make sense of our responsibility for the agreement we have signed with much fanfare,' he said. 'After having given tireless efforts spanning several decades at the cost of blood, sweat, and tears, we cannot afford to waver but pledge allegiance to the FA,' Mr. Tuccu said, warning of 'other options' to 'keep holding our nerves' to protect the Naga history.
NDTV
2 days ago
- NDTV
Kuki Students Ask Manipur Governor To Open State Civil Service Exam Centre In Churachandpur
Imphal: State civil service aspirants in Manipur's Churachandpur district have requested Governor AK Bhalla to hold the Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) mains exam in the southern hill district too, considering the situation in the state where members of the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes are unable to visit each other's areas with safety guarantees. An MPSC notification on July 11 said the mains exam will be held in two centres - state capital Imphal, and Guwahati in neighbouring Assam. "...However, this arrangement imposes undue physical, psychological, and financial hardship on aspirants from the Kuki community. So, we earnestly request your kind intervention to facilitate the conduct of the mains examination in Churachandpur district," the Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) said in a letter to Mr Bhalla. The KSO said holding the exam in Churachandpur will ensure inclusivity and equal opportunity for all aspirants, while also addressing the logistical and psychological challenges posed by long-distance travel. Several national-level exams such as UGC-NET, NEET, Agniveer, SSC, and banking services have been "successfully and smoothly conducted in Churachandpur in recent times", the KSO said, adding they are confident the state-level MPSC exams can also be conducted in the district efficiently in the same conducive environment. "Your timely and compassionate intervention will not only ensure fairness and justice for all aspirants but will also go a long way in restoring trust in the democratic institutions of the state. It will reaffirm the commitment that no deserving youth is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control," the KSO said. The Kuki tribes have refrained from going toward the valley area where the airport is located, citing security concerns. The better paved National Highway also passes through the valley to the east in central Manipur and goes toward Nagaland and Assam. To get out of Churachandpur, the Kuki tribes have been taking National Highway 102B - known for its bad patches and large potholes - that goes to Mizoram's capital Aizawl to the west. Aizawl has an airport. Members of the Meitei community can only take flights out of Imphal as all the highways pass through Kuki settlements. The Kuki tribes say they will not allow Meiteis to pass through their areas until their demand for a separate administration is met. A civil service aspirant in Churachandpur told NDTV it would be helpful if the MPSC mains exam can also be held in her district. Going to Guwahati will take a minimum of three days, and not every candidate has barely enough to survive, let alone travel, she said. "If the exam centre is in Guwahati, we have to be ready more than a week in advance to prepare for travel. We will waste many days on the road. It will be physically and financially draining," the civil service aspirant said, requesting anonymity.
