IMPHAL, Nov 7: The Thadou Community International (TCI) has dismissed to the recent allegations from the Kuki National Front (KNF), which accused the Thadou Convention of creating division by asserting Thadou’s unique identity. 

In a press release on Wednesday, TCI refuted these claims as baseless. It highlighted that Kuki organizations are primarily led by Thadou-speaking individuals who have distanced themselves from the Thadou tribe, instead aligning with the recently formed “Any Kuki Tribes” (AKT). According to TCI, AKT was added to Manipur’s Scheduled Tribes list in 2003 under questionable circumstances for political advantage. TCI asserted that other non-Naga tribes in Manipur, besides AKT, do not identify as Kuki.

The press release also stated that the term “Kuki,” previously considered an umbrella identity for related tribes, has lost its relevance. TCI argued that attempts to stifle Thadou’s self-identity under the guise of unity were contradictory, adding that the only Kuki entity currently is AKT. Accepting this reality, TCI said, would benefit all communities.

TCI further emphasized that other tribes such as Paite, Vaiphei, Zou, Simte, and Hmar have collectively identified as “Zomi,” a term representing shared ancestry rather than a specific tribe, underscoring their distinct status.

Responding to KNF’s assertion that Thadou’s non-Kuki identity implies a desire to separate, similar to groups like the Tangkhul or Meitei, TCI clarified that this stance merely reinforces Thadou’s distinct tribal identity as a recognized group.

On KNF’s stance that a “Kuki-Zo” identity is necessary for a Separate Administration, TCI argued that the term is vague and lacks broad support. It noted that the Zomi, Hmar, and Mizo communities do not endorse the term “Kuki-Zo,” viewing it as an attempt to elevate “Kuki” under the broader “Zo” label.

TCI also expressed concern over KNF’s warnings, including threats of severe actions such as kidnappings and penalties, to enforce Kuki identity on the Thadou people. The organization viewed such rhetoric as an effort to impose Kuki identity on non-Kuki tribes, calling it a Kuki supremacy agenda targeting 29 indigenous tribes separately recognized by the 1956 Presidential Order.

Additionally, TCI questioned why the KNF’s recent threats against an unnamed Manipur state official were not directed instead at the 10 Zo tribal MLAs who continue to support the Chief Minister’s administration. TCI called for peaceful and constructive dialogue among communities to address the ongoing crisis in Manipur.