Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), the legitimate apex body of the Thadou community in Manipur, categorically rejected the unsigned and unauthorized declaration issued by the self-styled “Thadou Inpi – General Headquarters (TI-GHQ)” on March 5, stating that the statement irresponsibly targeted independent Thadou organizations—including Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), Thadou Community International (TCI), Thadou Linguistic Forum (TLF), and Thadou Students’ Association (TSA-GHQ)—as well as Thadou leader Michael Lamjathang Haokip.
As organizations and leaders at the forefront of defending Thadou identity, language, and human rights, these genuine Thadou institutions and Michael Lamjathang Haokip have been targeted not by accident but as part of a calculated attempt to advance the violent Kuki supremacist agenda at the expense of the indigenous identity, peace, and unity of the people of Manipur, TIM stated in a press release.
These organizations operate independently and are not aligned with Kuki political or militant interests. TIM categorically rejects the unmandated TI-GHQ’s attempt to dictate terms to the Thadou community. While TIM had previously chosen to ignore repeated provocative statements issued by this group, the present rebuttal is necessary to clarify the facts and expose the lack of legitimacy, credibility, and authority of the so-called TI-GHQ, which functions merely as a Kuki proxy and mouthpiece, it stated.
Following the outbreak of the Manipur crisis in May 2023, the situation worsened. The leadership of the then TI-GHQ reportedly came under the influence of Kuki militant networks and lost the ability to function independently. As a result, the institution effectively collapsed and ceased to operate as a legitimate representative body of the Thadou community, it stated.
In November 2023, a body calling itself the Thadou Tribe Council–GHQ (TTC-GHQ) was formed in Tuibong with the backing of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an SoO signatory Kuki militant. This entity did not emerge as a genuine Thadou institution but rather as a Tuibong-centric proxy structure advancing Kuki supremacist interests, merely operating as a paper tiger. Since its formation, it has failed to undertake any meaningful activity for the welfare of the Thadou community and has largely limited itself to issuing hostile statements against genuine Thadou organizations.
Similarly, in April 2024, another group styling itself as Thadou Inpi-GHQ was formed in Kangpokpi under the patronage of the United Peoples’ Front-Kuki (UPF-K), a SoO signatory Kuki militant. This body functions as another proxy platform operating under Kuki militant influence and attempting to misrepresent the Thadou community while promoting Kuki separatist political agendas, confusing the people of Manipur, it stated.
Both the Tuibong-based TTC-GHQ and the Kangpokpi-based TI-GHQ therefore lack constitutional legitimacy and operate as proxy instruments serving militant Kuki networks. Rather than serving the interests of the Thadou people, these organizations have primarily propagated Kuki supremacist narratives and targeted genuine Thadou institutions, including Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), it stated.
TIM strongly condemned the baseless allegations made by the so-called TI-GHQ against Michael Lamjathang Haokip, stating that these attacks appear to be deliberate attempts to discredit a leader who has consistently advocated peace, dialogue, and nonviolent solutions and who has demonstrated courage and true leadership at all times. Unlike individuals aligned with the Kuki militant interests, Michael Lamjathang Haokip, a true, unwavering Thadou leader, has remained steadfast in his commitment to justice, coexistence, and the welfare of the Thadou people.
TIM demanded that the self-styled TI-GHQ immediately retract its misleading and defamatory statement and issue a public apology. It urged the Thadou community and the wider people of Manipur not to be deceived or misled by statements issued by unmandated Kuki proxy organizations. The Thadou people must remain steadfast in protecting their indigenous identity and rejecting narratives that promote division, coercion, or violence, it added.
As the legitimate apex body of the Thadou community in Manipur, Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM) remains committed to safeguarding the identity, dignity, and welfare of the Thadou people while working toward unity, stability, and lasting peace in Manipur, it stated.
