Kuki Inpi Denounces Delegation Claiming to Represent Thadou Inpi Manipur in Imphal Peace Talks

The Kuki Inpi, the apex body representing the Kuki tribes in Manipur, has issued a firm clarification regarding the visit of a 17-member delegation, claiming to represent the Thadou Inpi Manipur (TIM), to Imphal on August 6, 2025. The delegation reportedly arrived in the state capital for "peace talks" with various Meitei Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

In an official statement issued today, the Kuki Inpi, aligned with the Thadou Inpi General Headquarters, unequivocally declared that the so-called Thadou Inpi Manipur does not have the legitimacy to represent the Thadou tribes of Manipur. The statement referred to earlier resolutions, such as the Inpi Proclamation No. 2 from July 3, 2023, the Delhi Conclave Declaration from October 16, 2023, and the Shillong Summit Resolution of August 2024, all of which rejected any association or alliance with the Meitei community.

The Kuki Inpi further asserted that any individuals or groups claiming to represent the Kuki people without the mandate of the legitimate Kuki leadership would be "ostracised" from the Kuki community. The statement labelled the leadership of the Thadou Inpi Manipur as “enemies of the Kuki people,” accusing them of undermining the community’s struggle for justice and peace.

The Kuki Inpi also raised concerns about the timing and intent behind the visit, noting that while the Kuki people continue to endure displacement, persecution, and denial of justice, attempts at unauthorized peace talks only dilute the gravity of the ongoing crisis. "Peace cannot be built on exclusion, misrepresentation, or betrayal," the statement read.

According to the Kuki Inpi, any genuine peace process must involve authentic, community-mandated representatives and must address the historical and recent injustices faced by the Kuki people. These include mass displacement, targeted violence, and systemic marginalization that the community has been subjected to during the ongoing Kuki-Meitei conflict.

The Kuki Inpi also called on all stakeholders — local, national, and international — to reject any attempts to misrepresent or hijack the Kuki community's demands for justice, safety, and security.