Imphal, Sept 1 (NNN): The Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), the apex body for the Thadou tribal community, has submitted an urgent 35-page memorandum to the Government of India and state governments of Manipur and Assam, demanding the immediate termination of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups, TIM said on Monday.
The memorandum began by explaining the Thadou distinct identity, asserting that Thadou is neither Kuki nor under Kuki, but a separate, independent ethnic group. It cited the history of the Thadou tribal community as a peaceful society, which was disrupted by the “rise of a radical Kuki supremacy ideology” beginning in the 1970s and the subsequent emergence of Kuki militancy in the late 1980s.
The petition articulated that the SoO agreement was a complete failure, serving only to empower Kuki militants to carry out widespread violence, persecution, jihadist-influenced Kuki supremacist ideology, and criminal activities against the Thadou people.
It further explained that the agreement has provided a de facto political cover for these groups to operate with impunity, creating a parallel government, state of lawlessness and undermining democratic institutions.
The petition concluded with an urgent appeal to the Centre and state governments of Manipur and Assam to take decisive action to correct these “past policy errors” and to abrogate the agreement immediately.
“For over 20 years, the SoO Agreement has failed to achieve its primary objective of peace and stability. Instead, it has become a cover for terrorist activities, criminal, political, and secessionist agendas, systematically persecuting the Thadou community, subverting democratic processes, and openly defying India’s integrity through violence”, the TIM memorandum said.
The memorandum was addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma. It was also copied to AK Mishra, Adviser (North East), MHA, Government of India, and Tapan Deka, Director, Intelligence Bureau, MHA, Government of India, among others.
