The Shongthu Chate

  PART-1 By Antony Shongthu May nisim 3, 2023, nikho a kipat a State Government toh kitho a phaichammi hon thachimit ding a galpi eihin bolkhum uva kipat in Kuki-Zo chaten genthei tintang ihin thoh uvin, thina-manna toh, chule inn-le-lou kihallha tampi ihung um tauvin ahi. Hitia Officer ho le MLA/Minister ho a kipat a meithai-chaga changei khentum umlou a suhmang hel ding tohgon ahin nei phat uchun Nam mipi ten kilungtoh tah in gal ihin doukhom tauvin, galjo na umhih lai jong le kum-ni le akeh val ihung pang tauvin ahi. Gal hung kipat jou sotlou lai in Kuki-Zo MLA-10 hon Central Government kom a “Separate Administration” neipeh lou uva ahi le kathigam tei tei diu ahi tai ti’n kivaihopna tum ahin thum pan tauvin, hichu SoO group ho le CSO hon jong ahin chepi tauvin ahi. Hiche kikah lah a hin Chief Minister N. Biren Singh vaihopna chun phatlam amano tahlou jeh in Central Government in atoumun a kon in ana haisah in, achesa February nisim 13, 2025 nikho chun President Rule ahin koi ta...

  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) Meeting between Thadou Inpi Manipur and Meitei CSOs in Imphal 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 i...

Amur Falcon ( Falco amurensis ), locally known as “ Akhuaipuina ”,is a long distance, trans-equatorial migratory bird from Eastern Russia, China, and Mongolia. To be more specific, Amur Falcon breeds in the Eastern Palearctic from Transbaikalia, Russia, and central Mongolia east to Ussuriland (south-eastern Russia) and south to the Qinling Mountain range in central China. It is one of the most talked-about birds in Tamenglong among the 69 different species of Falcon found in India. Amur Falcon usually comes to India’s northeast particularly Tamenglong district of Manipur and Wokha district of Nagaland in the early or mid-October and spends 4-5 weeks before leaving for a long journey towards Southern Africa.After travelling a long distance from East Asia, the birds reached Northeast India lean and thin, but they became fat and healthy within a week or two after feeding themselves in this region. An Amur Falcon weighs about 160 grams and measures 25-30 cm in length. In an interaction w...

The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex social organisation of the Nagas of Manipur, in its presidential council meeting held on 9 August 2024 at Maram, Senapati district, resolved to continue its demand to roll-back the seven new districts created in December 2016 by the then Congress government. It may be noted that the UNC had launched a series of agitation including a four-month-long economic blockade along the two National Highways (Imphal-Dimapur road and Imphal-Jiri road) in protest against the bifurcation of the then seven existing districts out of nine to create seven new districts. The newly created districts include Jiribam (from Imphal East), Kakching (from Thoubal), Kangpokpi (from Senapati), Kamjong (from Ukhrul) Noney (from Tamenglong), Pherzawl (from Churachandpur), and Tengnoupal (from Chandel). Imphal West and Bishnupur were the only two districts which were not bifurcated. The main argument of the UNC was that the Nagas were not consulted while creating these new dis...

Since N. Biren Singh became the chief minister of Manipur in 2017, his chair has always been shaking due to the rebel MLAs’ attempt to replace him. During his first stint, as many as 15 BJP MLAs out of 21 were not in favour of Biren’s chief-ministership. In the end, these rebel MLAs failed to topple his ministry, but they were able to exert strong pressure on both the central and state BJP leadership about their intention to replace Biren with a more capable and accommodative leader at the helm. During his second term in office, which began sometime in May 2022, the threat seemed lesser, but it continued to haunt him. The pressure has become more obvious since the outbreak of the current ethnic turmoil on May 3, 2023. While the Kukis are unanimous in their stand against the continuation of Biren as chief minister, there is a division of opinion within his own community. Half of the population thinks he is no longer fit to hold the post due to his misadventures and communal policies...

The Meitei chief minister Mr. N. Biren Singh said to the press today that his government has been trying to bring peace by looking for a middle path, but from now onward, they [the Kukis?] will be shown that there is a state government. Anybody who understands Manipuri (Meitei language) must be asking themselves what the hell is he talking about! Since day one of the current ethnic cleansing pogrom, Mr Biren and some of his cabinet colleagues including the lone Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba has been leading the radicalised Meitei sections and its armed militias such as Arambai Tenggol, Meitei Leepun, and others, in attacking the Kuki villages in the periphery areas. On more than one occasion, including Phailengmol Area (Khamenlok), Mr Biren even visited the site physically and witnessed the burning and destruction of houses and churches belonging to the Kukis in more than ten villages. It may also be noted that Mr Biren had repeatedly appealed to his [Meitei] people to let his go...