Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), the authoritative body of the Thadou community in Manipur, dismissed an unauthorized declaration from the self-identified “Thadou Inpi – General Headquarters (TI-GHQ)” made on March 5. TIM criticized the statement for targeting independent Thadou organizations—including itself, Thadou Community International (TCI), Thadou Linguistic Forum (TLF), and Thadou Students’ Association (TSA-GHQ)—and Thadou leader Michael Lamjathang Haokip. This targeting is seen as part of a deliberate effort to promote a Kuki supremacist agenda that undermines the identity, peace, and unity of Manipur’s indigenous population.
TIM clarified that these organizations operate independently from Kuki political or militant entities and rejected TI-GHQ’s attempts to impose terms on the Thadou community. Following the escalation of the Manipur crisis in May 2023, TI-GHQ reportedly succumbed to Kuki militant influence, losing its status as a legitimate representative, as TIM asserted. Recently, in November 2023, a so-called Thadou Tribe Council – GHQ (TTC-GHQ) emerged in Tuibong with links to the Kuki National Organisation (KNO). This body is viewed as a Tuibong-centric proxy rather than a genuine Thadou institution and has not taken any substantial actions for the community’s benefit.
Moreover, another group, Thadou Inpi-GHQ, formed in April 2024 in Kangpokpi with backing from Kuki militants, operates similarly as a proxy entity. Both organizations lack constitutional legitimacy and primarily serve the interests of Kuki militants, while undermining authentic Thadou representatives like TIM. TIM condemned the unfounded allegations against Haokip, affirming his dedication to peace and the Thadou community’s welfare.
TIM demanded a retraction and public apology from TI-GHQ and urged the Thadou community and the people of Manipur to resist manipulation by Kuki proxy organizations. It emphasized the need to protect the Thadou identity against divisive narratives and reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare and unity of the Thadou people in Manipur.