By Kukiland Express Staff Reporter_
Chandel: April 19, 2026
The Kuki History & Identity Protection Committee (KHIPC) on Saturday issued a public and media advisory cautioning news organisations, civil society groups, and the general public against statements and activities put out by what it described as “self-styled” organisations including the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), Thadou Human Rights Advocacy (THRA), Thadou Community International (TCI), Thadou Youth Union (TYU), and Thadou Student Association (TSA). In a strongly worded release dated April 19, 2026 from Chandel, KHIPC said these entities do not represent the collective voice, history, or political aspirations of the Kuki people and have been issuing material that risks creating confusion about the community’s identity before national and international forums. The committee urged all responsible media platforms to verify the credentials and mandate of any group claiming to speak for the Kukis before publishing their releases, and advised the public not to be misled by propaganda issued under these banners.
KHIPC specifically named Mr. Michael Lamjathang Haokip, also referred to as Michael Thadou, and Mr. James Haokip, also referred to as James Thadou, as the individuals running TIM and THRA and their affiliated outfits. The committee alleged that these organisations are “individual-run” and function without a mandate from traditional Kuki institutions or the broader community. To substantiate its claim on identity, KHIPC asserted that both Lamjathang and James belong to the Haokip clan and are not of the Thadou clan, arguing that their use of the ‘Thadou’ nomenclature is misleading. The advisory reiterated that the Kuki people have legitimate apex bodies and traditional institutions that represent their social, cultural, and political interests, and said no politically sponsored group can override the community’s collective position.
The KHIPC release further alleged that it has received information indicating that the entities in question are “sponsored and backed” by former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, with what it called the intent to create confusion, divide the Kuki community, and misrepresent Kuki identity and history before national and international platforms. According to KHIPC, the timing and content of statements issued by TIM, THRA, TCI, TYU, and TSA point to a pattern aimed at fragmenting community opinion during a period of heightened political and social sensitivity in the state. The committee called on media houses to exercise due diligence, cross-check organisational legitimacy, and avoid amplifying releases that could deepen intra-community rifts or distort the historical record concerning the Kukis.
Addressing the question of clan and tribe, KHIPC contended that the 1956 recognition of the Thadou clan as a separate tribe in Manipur was a mistake that needs to be rectified, arguing that the classification has since been used to advance divisive narratives. Kuki identity, it said, encompasses its constituent clans and traditional structures, and attempts to project separate political platforms under the Thadou name without community sanction run counter to the collective social and historical position of the Kuki people. It appealed to the public to distinguish between mandated apex bodies and what it termed “self-styled” platforms that, in its view, lack grassroots representation or customary authority.
KHIPC concluded its advisory by reaffirming that only recognised Kuki apex bodies and traditional institutions are authorised to articulate the community’s social, cultural, and political interests, and urged civil society and the press to uphold standards of verification when handling claims of representation. The committee said it would continue to monitor statements issued in the name of the community and would respond to misrepresentation to protect Kuki history and identity. It also reiterated its appeal to the public to remain vigilant against what it described as politically motivated attempts to sow confusion, and to rely on established community institutions for authentic positions on matters affecting the Kuki people.
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