Poonam Nath

TIM rails against ongoing persecution of the Christian Thadou Tribe by Kuki groups

Digital Desk: The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) is concerned about the ongoing persecution of the Thadou tribal Christian community by Kuki groups, including churches and civil society organizations.

The latest incident involves the social boycott and ostracization of Thadou families in Shillong on August 20, initiated by a joint public notification from the Kuki Worship Service, Kuki Inpi Meghalaya, and the Kuki Students’ Organization.

Family members of the persecuted Thadou individuals were coerced into disowning them through a public announcement. The targeted action follows the refusal of two Thadou individuals, Jamkholun Haokip and Nehkholal Haokip, to heed a summons from these Kuki organizations. The affected Thadou families are victims of violence in Manipur and are currently living in Shillong as internally displaced persons.

According to the Kuki organizations, Jamkholun and Nehkholal's attendance at the Imphal meeting was the reason behind the punishment. The Thadou Inpi Manipur has reaffirmed that the meeting, which was facilitated by TIM and Imphal-based Manipur civil society organizations like COCOMI, AMUCO, FOCS, Arambai Tenggol, student groups, Ema groups, and others, was a sincere conversation between the Thadou and Meitei communities.

Despite persistent efforts to force the term "Kuki" on Thadou and other indigenous tribes in Manipur, the Thadou Inpi had also made it clear that the Thadou delegation was not representative of the Kuki community and that Thadou is not Kuki. Nevertheless, Kuki groups disregarded peace and communal harmony and persisted in their hateful, unlawful, and terroristic actions against the Thadou community.

The rising extremist network among Kukis, including from religious groups outside of Manipur, is a serious worry since it endangers Indian society, the constitutional rule of law, and civil society norms. The Thadou community has faced violence and threats for decades, with antagonism increasing since the 1970s. In the early 1990s, the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA), led by Rev. Dr. T. Lunkim, was active in forcing the All-India Radio Thadou program to switch to Kuki. Today, Kuki hate preachers and extreme pastors often preach violence and supremacy, with some openly advocating for widespread violence against Thadou authorities and community members, which contradicts Jesus Christ's teachings.

Evangelist Paogin Haokip, Pastor Onkho and Pastor Demlal Haokip, Rev. T.L. Angam Haokip, and P.S. Haokip, the cult leader and KNO president, have all been identified as prominent Kuki hate preachers, pseudo-pastors, and extremist church leaders. Through his book Zalengam—The Kuki Nation, Haokip has promoted Kuki supremacy and Kuki sovereignty.

The direct involvement of members of the Manipur state government in activities that promote anti-state narratives, hate speech, disinformation, and Kuki-supremacist campaigns is equally concerning. These include Paominlen Haokip, Lenin Haokip, an assistant teacher with the Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council who also works in the Kuki Inpi Manipur Legal Affairs Department, and Jangmang Haokip, a self-styled evangelist, freelance journalist, and Supervisor Kanungo (SK) under the Land Resources Department who is currently posted at SDO Saitu-Gamphazol.

Serious concerns are raised by the government's inaction against its own employees who are actively involved in unlawful activity.

In certain regions of the world, jihadist-influenced terrorism is the same as Kuki radicalism, according to a thorough examination of its methods and patterns.

This violence has been tolerated for far too long by the Thadou community, which lacks an armed group of its own. To guard against ongoing persecution, TIM encourages its members to maintain their resolve and think about distancing themselves from Kuki social and religious groups.

In Manipur and throughout India, the Thadou community calls on everyone to acknowledge and denounce the violent aggression and persecutory actions of Kuki supremacists, especially against the Christian Thadou tribe. To stop this, the Indian and Manipur state governments must halt their Kuki appeasement policies and act decisively. This is crucial to preserving democracy and safeguarding the integrity of the state and the country.