Opinion: One Step Forward or Two Steps Backward? Reflecting on the So-Called "Road to Peace" Meeting in Imphal
It is worth noting that TIM is an organisation formed in 2024 by a few individuals, but subsequently disowned by the Thadou Inpi General Headquarters and Thadou Tribe Council.
By T. Anthony Shongthu (via The Hills Journal — On August 7, 2025)
On 6th August 2025, the 27-month-old ethnic clash between the majority Meiteis and the minority Kuki-Zo tribals witnessed some unprecedented developments, which may open a new Pandora’s box.
First, the Working Committee of Kuki CSOs (WCKCSOs), Sadar Hills Kanggui (Kangpokpi), issued a stern warning to the perpetrators of the ongoing 20-day-long travel ban imposed on Kuki-Zo commuters under the banner of the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee (FNCC) since 15th July. A press communiqué released by the Working Committee gave a 36-hour ultimatum to rescind the "uncivilized and undemocratic blockade," failing which "a total blockade on the supply of all essential food items through the Asian Highway/National Highway 2 will be instituted from 7:00 a.m. on 8th August 2025 until the matter is resolved."
It may be recalled that the FNCC had imposed a communally motivated travel restriction against the Kuki-Zo community and vehicles carrying goods meant for Kuki areas along the only road connecting Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts at Makhan village in Kangpokpi district, on frivolous charges. The WCKCSOs squarely placed the blame on two Meitei individuals—Mr. Sapamacha Jadumani and Th. Manihar, of the Federation of Haomee (FOHS) and the Federation of Civil Society (FOCS), respectively—alleging that they "single-handedly inflamed" the sentiments of the unsuspecting Liangmai population in the peripheral areas through which Kuki-Zo commuters travel. It may also be noted that the ongoing restriction was neither supported by the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Nagas of Manipur, nor by the Naga People’s Organisation (NPO), the apex body of the Nagas of Senapati and Kangpokpi districts.
Second, a closed-door meeting took place between a delegation of Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM)—claiming to be the apex body of the Thadou tribe, a major group within the Kuki-Zo community—and representatives of select Meitei organisations such as COCOMI, FOCS, and Arambai Tenggol, who are allegedly among the main perpetrators of the ongoing state-sponsored ethnic cleansing pogrom against the Kukis. Though the details of what transpired in the meeting were not disclosed, a press advisory issued by TIM appealed to all the media houses to refrain from using the word "Kuki" when referring to the participating group in their coverage of the event, which was titled "Road to Peace: Covenant of Co-existence on Community Understanding." This meeting was significant in the sense that it was the first such interaction between representatives of the two warring groups in Imphal since the outbreak of the current ethnic pogrom on 3rd May 2023.
Third, there was a report of a “crucial” meeting between representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India, and the United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organization (KNO)—the two umbrella organisations of the Kuki armed groups—in New Delhi on 5th August 2025, concerning the extension of the Suspension of Operations and political solutions. A joint Press Release from the two Kuki organisations expressed hope for an early conclusion to the political dialogue with the Union Government, as the meeting concluded on a “positive note” with agreement on all issues.
Of these three developments, media houses owned and sponsored by the Meiteis focused solely on the meeting between TIM and the Meitei CSOs. Even a few media outlets from Northeast India with Meitei correspondents gave prime-time coverage to this meeting, as if something significant had occurred. It is worth noting that TIM is an organisation formed in 2024 by a few individuals, but subsequently disowned by the Thadou Inpi General Headquarters and Thadou Tribe Council.
Moreover, upon closer examination, the meeting carried little meaning—except that it happened in Imphal. A series of earlier meetings between TIM and Meitei CSOs in mainland Indian cities such as Guwahati and New Delhi had not yielded any results, and hence this one too is unlikely to have any significant impact, except that it may cause confusion among members of both the communities. Therefore, the wide coverage given to the "peace meeting" by Meitei media outlets appears to be an attempt to divert public attention from the other two more critical developments in Kangpokpi and New Delhi.
As far as social media buzz is concerned, there has already been a debate with many questioning whether the "Thadous" are actually different from the "Kukis," as claimed by TIM. Many social media users pointed out that the Thadous are, in fact, Kukis, and the claims made by TIM should not be taken seriously. Nevertheless, many Meiteis who are now desperate for peace after completely cleansing the Kuki-Zo from Imphal welcomed the so-called “peace meeting,” hoping it could mark the beginning of a lasting peace between the two warring communities.
(Reproduced from The Hills Journal)
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