Summary
The Kuki National Army (KNA) is a Kuki insurgent group active in Northeast India and northwest Myanmar. It is the armed wing of the Kuki National Organisation.[2][5]
| Kuki National Army | |
|---|---|
| NAM-SEH-PAIH | |
 Flag of the Kuki National Army | |
| Leaders | Pu Letlam Pu Chuchung Pi Ngangai |
| Dates of operation | 24 February 1988[1] – present |
| Headquarters | Mobile headquarters |
| Active regions | Northeast India
Myanmar (Burma) |
| Ideology | Kuki nationalism |
| Size | 200+ (in Myanmar)[2]
around 2,000 (total, including other KNO wings)[3] |
| Part of | Kuki National Organisation |
| Allies |  Other Kuki National Organization Armed Wings:[better source needed][4]
 Kachin Independence Army[5] |
| Opponents | State opponents
Non-state opponents |
| Battles and wars | |
| Website | issuu |
History edit
The Kuki National Army (KNA) was founded on 24 February 1988 with the goal of creating a separate state administered by the Kuki people in India and Myanmar (Burma). From its formation to 2013, the KNA was involved in 20 armed confrontations with the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Armed Forces).[2]
After the 2010 Burmese general election, pressure from other Kuki organisations forced the KNA to separate its Indian and Burmese wings, the latter of which was renamed and abbreviated KNA(B).[2]
The group signed a Suspension of Operation with India in August 2005 and signed a truce with the central government and Manipur state on 20 May 2008,[7] which lasted until 2023.
Recent activities in Myanmar edit
After 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, KNA resumed fighting against the military of Myanmar. On 10 April 2021, it attacked the military, killing 18 soldiers.[8]In October 2023, it joined Kachin Independence Army in an assault, in which they managed to captured a strategic Aungja base.[9]In December of the same year, it and People's Defence Force seized a base in Tamu township, Sagaing Region.[10]
Recent activities in India edit
As ethnic tensions between the Meiteis and other ethnic groups mounted in Manipur, Government of Manipur, largely controlled by the Meiteis, subsequently decided to end the truce with Kuki National Army in March 2023.[11]On 2nd January 2024, around 8 am, a team of security personnel conducting routine operations in the border town of Moreh in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district was attacked with bombs and automatic weapons, injuring at least seven security personnel—five from the Manipur Police and two from the BSF. Subsequently, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh condemned the attack, stating that militants from Myanmar—since Moreh borders the neighbouring country—were likely involved. “We have... established from various sources the involvement of foreign mercenaries from Myanmar, such as the KNA-B and KNA-R,” Singh said.[12]However a body called the ‘Village Volunteers, Tengnoupal District (Eastern Zone)’ later issued its own “clarification” on such reports on Tuesday (January 2) denying that the aforementioned groups were involved in the gunfight.[13]
Leadership edit
Below is the individuals in leadership positions in KNA(B).[2] PS Haokip, founder of KNO/KNA, is the president and the supreme commander of the Kuki National Organisation.[14]
- President: Pu Letlam
- Vice President: Pu Chuchung
- General Secretary: Pi Ngangai
- Joint Secretary: Pu Khupmang
- Defence Secretary: Pu Paulneo
- Information and Publicity Secretary: Pu Seigin
- Home Secretary: Pu Michael Sasat
- Head of Intelligence: Pu Letkholun
- Secretary of External Affairs and Liaison: Pu Boipu
- Secretary of Human Rights Law and Analysis Wing: Pi Lalam
Areas of operation edit
The KNA operates two armed wings, one in India and one in Myanmar (known as KNA(B).Total cadre strength in Burma 200+[2]
Myanmar (Burma)
References edit
- ^ Kuki National Organisation; Haokip, P.S. (1 January 2008). Zale'n-gam the Kuki Nation. Zale'n-gam: Kuki National Organisation. p. 376-381. LCCN 2009317695.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kuki National Organization (Burma) Myanmar Peace Monitor". mmpeacemonitor.org. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^ Hussain, Afrida (7 July 2023). "Manipur crisis: What is suspension of operations agreement?". India Today. Guhawati. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "The Kuki National Organisation". Zou Gam. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Kuki National Army, Manipur". www.satp.org. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
- ^ "Pyusawhti militia". Myanmar NOW.
- ^ Thangboi Zou, S. "Emergent Micro-National Communities: The Logic of Kuki-Chin Armed Struggle in Manipur". Strategic Analysis. 36 (2): 315–327. doi:10.1080/09700161.2012.646509. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Tens of Thousands of Residents Flee Bago in Wake of Assault by Myanmar Security Forces". Radio free Asia. 12 April 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "KIA and allies seize junta bases in Shan and Kachin states". Myanmar Now. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Myanmar Junta Loses Over a Dozen Troops, More Bases in Three Days of Resistance Attacks". The Irrawaddy. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ K Sarojkumar Sharma (12 March 2023). "Manipur ends truce with Kuki militants". Imphal. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "7 police, BSF personnel injured in Moreh attack; Manipur CM links it to Myanmar militants". The Indian Express. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Manipur Body Issues 'Clarification' on Moreh Gunfight, Denies Involvement of Kuki Militant Groups". The Wire. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Ningthouja, Malem (1 October 2022). "The Idea of a Sovereign Zalen'gam: An Interview of Pu PS Haokip, President and Supreme Commander, Kuki National Organisation". Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2024.