KNO's armed wing comprise the following organisations:
Organisation Name Desig
1. Kuki National Army S Robert Haokip CAS
2. Kuki Naitonal Front (MC) TH German Haokip C-in-C
3. Kuki National Front (Z) Joshua Haokip C-in-C
4. United Socialist Revolutionary Army Lalminthang Vaiphei C-in-C
5. Zomi Revolutionary Front David Thangboi C-in-C
6. Zou Defence Volunteer Kamkhenpao Zou C-in-C
7. United Komrem Army Thangboi Karong C-in-C
8. Hmar National Army Thangsang Hmar C-in-C
KNO operates in northeast India and the Northwest Myanmar (Burma). In post-independent Burma, the Kuki leaders appealed for Kuki statehood. Burma offered to create a Kuki-Naga state, which was unacceptable. In India the Kuki National Assembly was formed on 24 October 1946. Initially the organisation proposed sovereignty for the Kukis, but decided to demand statehood. However, their appeals to Government of India went unacknowledged. Thereafter, Kuki joined the Mizo National Front movement in the 1960s to integrate their inhabited areas into what is presently known as Mizoram. Regrettably, when MNF and Government of India signed the Mizoram accord in 1986, Kuki areas were not included.
Betrayed by MNF and GOI, in the early the late 1980s a group of Kukis – who later formed the KNO – went to Kachin state in Burma to be trained by the Kachin Independent Organisation. After completing their training in Kachin, Mr Thangkholun, the leader, convened a conference at Jangmol-Dingpi. Kuki elders and leaders attended the conference from both India and Burma to formalise KNO as the provisional government of Zale’n-gam, the Kuki nation.
KNO’s objectives
KNO’s principal objectives concern the resurrection of Zale’n-gam, the Kuki nation. In the first instance this relates to the nation-states India and Burma, within which the British colonialists forcibly included the greater parts of Zale’n-gam. In this regard KNO’s immediate objective is two-fold:
a) the historicity of Zale’n-gam’s territorial integrity and sovereignty be recognised;
b) if India and Burma want to integrate parts of Kuki territory within their respective nation this needs to be done by way of according statehood in each country.
KNO is open to dialogue along the stated objectives with the concerned governments. This view, for example, has been stated in the Bangkok based The New Era Journal (June 2002):
If amalgamation of Kuki territory is viewed as problematic, in the least, creation of two Kuki states is essential: one within Burma and the other within India.
In keeping with its objectives, KNO has adopted different strategies with regard to India and Myanmar. In India, they follow the policy of appeal and petition. Till date, no armed struggle has been launched against GOI. Memoranda have been submitted to the GOI since 1995 include the following:
• 2 October 1995 to Shri PV Narasimha Rao, former Prime Minister
• 4 October 1995 to Shri AB Vajpayee, leader of the Opposition party
• 17 June 1996 to Shri HD Deve Gowda, the Prime Minister
• 27 January 1997 to KR Narayanan, President of India
• 30 July 2004 to Manmohan Singh, the Hon’ble Prime Minister
In Myanmar, KNO have had to resort to violent means. KNO’s armed cadres of Kuki National Army have waged guerrilla warfare against the Military Junta between 1991 and 1999, mainly targeting patrol parties. Steamers have also been attacked along the river Chindwin. The reasons are as follows:
• The Burmese government have disregarded the fact that Kukis live on their ancestral lands
• Kuki village boundaries have been removed
• Traditional form of governance, i.e. haosa (chieftainship) system has been abolished
• Ethnic Burmese population, extricated mainly from Rangoon and Mandalay, have been transplanted to Kuki areas with a view to rendering the indigenous people a minority
• Development in Kuki areas is virtually non-existent
KNO’s external associations
The Kuki National Organization maintains association with Kachin Independent Organisation (KIO); National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB), and particularly with Wa, Palaung, Lahu and Pa-oh peoples. In 2000, as a bulwark against infiltration of alien groups into their areas, KNO initiated the formation of the Indigenous Peoples Revolutionary Army (IPRA). IPRA is comprised of KNA, Kuki National Front (KNF), Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), Hmar People’s Council (HPC) and Kuki National Front – Military Council (KNF-MC). Representatives of KNO have also met the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB), an umbrella organization, with a view to becoming a member. The current membership, totalling twenty-six, consist of political parties, including ethnic Burmese, and armed groups from various ethnic backgrounds.
KNO is also a member of Federation of Ethnic Nationalities of Burma. FENB membership also include Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), Wa National Organization (WNO), Lahu Democratic Front (LDF), Pa-O People’s Liberation Organization (PPLO), Chin Liberation Organisation (CLO) and Democratic Alliance of Arakan (DPA). FENB’s objectives are twofold: statehood for all ethnic nationalities, and setting up a union of democratic Burma based on principles of federalism. Accordingly, FENB have appealed to the United Nations Organisation through Ismail Razali, Special Envoy of the United Nations to Burma to intervene in Burma regarding creation of statehood for Wa, Kuki, Palaung, Lahu and Pa-oh, who are currently unrepresented ethnic minorities in the country.
Popular support
KNO is active in most part of Kuki areas in India and Myanmar. The organisation takes the responsibility of co-ordinating different Kuki insurgency groups. They have also exercised concern over socio-religious issues, such as church unity, campaign against social evils such as narcotics, theft, exploitation and smuggling of local natural resources, etc. Consequently, KNO have earned respect and support from the Kuki community. By virtue of their inclusiveness and the democratic principles they upheld, the organisation also enjoys the support of other ethnic groups settled in their areas of operation.
KNO publications
KNO have published three books authored by PS Haokip, the president. The publications in English are Zale’n-gam: The Land of the Kukis (1995, revised and reprinted in 1996), Zale’n-gam: The Kuki Nation (1998), The Kuki National Organisation rejoinder (see ) to National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak & Muivah’s article KUKI AND THE NAGA PUBLIC CLASHES, posted on the website www.nscnonline.org Eastern Zale’n-gam (2000) has been published in the Burmese language. These publications deal with Kuki history, customs, traditions, issues of conflict, and articulate the organisation’s ideology.
Conclusion
The designs of British colonialism dealt a devastating blow to Kuki. Efforts made by Kuki National Assembly and Kuki leaders in Burma to seek redressal in independent India and Burma have proved futile. KNO’s aim, whether it is the realisation of Zale’n-gam or Kuki state: one in India and the other in Burma, seem to have been interrupted by the violent activities of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak & Muivah (NSCN-IM). In the existing circumstances, PS Haokip, in a video recording, expressed a view pertinent to the organisation’s stand:
In the 1990s, the NSCN-IM inflicted tremendous atrocities upon Kuki: over nine hundred lives have been lost, three hundred-and-fifty villages uprooted, and fifty thousand people rendered refugees. The deracinated Kuki villages are mainly in Manipur, in the districts of Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati. In this scenario and particular juncture, it is immensely ungratifying that GOI should engage in dialogue only with NSCN-IM (after all Naga have already been given statehood in 1963) – the Kukis have not only been blatantly ignored in this instance, their concerns and plight have never been adequately addressed either.
GOI seems to have forgotten that the British forcibly took Kuki land and handed it over to India. This is the ancestral land for which the Kukis fought the British Imperialists in both WWI and WWII. Now, in the context of India, if Kuki is to remain a part of the union, the Kuki land, ‘Zale’n-gam’, needs to be accorded statehood. Kuki does not demand anybody’s land; they only make claim over their own. So far, the deliberations of GOI have been contrary to the expectations of the Kuki people. This is extremely disappointing, especially given the fact of Kuki’s peaceful association with India, and notwithstanding their history of opposition to colonialism.
Despite the odds that the Kuki people face today, KNO is committed to persevere towards achieving the organisation’s objectives. KNO will hold steadfast to the values and traditions of our forefathers and not compromise on the integrity of Kuki territory. To this end support from the Kuki community and others concerned, such as human rights groups and Non Governmental Organisations are respectfully solicited.
Source: http://www.kukination.com/kno.php
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Formation
The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and its armed Wing, Kuki National Army (KNA), were formed in 1988. The first batch of the cadres, under the command of Thangkholun Haokip, was trained by the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) in Myanmar.
Objectives
The main objectives of the KNA is to bring together all the Kuki-inhabited areas separated by artificial boundary created in 1935, specifically in the Kabaw valley of Myanmar and the Kuki inhabited areas in the hill districts of Manipur under one administrative unit called ‘Zalengam’ (Land of freedom). In case of the eventuality of such integration not materializing, the KNA aims at the creation of two Kuki states: one within Burma i.e. ‘Eastern Zalengam’ and the other within India, ‘Western Zalengam’.
The KNA’s relationship with other Kuki and Zomi militant outfits, however, remained hostile. On December 29, 2005, three Kuki militant outfits, the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) and the Kuki National Front-Samuel (KNF-S), merged under the banner of the Kuki National Council (KNC) to carry out operations against the KNA. A decision to this effect was announced by the ‘commanding officer’ of the KRA, Maj Max, at Sadar Hills area in Manipur.
In Myanmar, the Kuki National Army waged guerrilla warfare against the Military Junta between 1991 and 1999, mainly targeting patrol parties and also Steamers along the Chindwin River.
Leadership
P. S. Haokip is the ‘president’ of the KNO and ‘supreme commander’ of the KNA. Anton Kuki is the ‘Home Secretary’. The other senior members are Khaikholun, vice-president for Eastern Zalen-gam, Lalminthang Vaiphei, vice-president for Western Zalengam, S. N. G. Haokip, Public Relations Secretary, Amitabh T. S. Haokip, Defence Secretary, Zalen Kuki, Foreign Secretary, Joshua Haokip, Education and Development Secretary, T. H. German Haokip, Intelligence and Analysis Secretary, Benjamin Paite, Trade and Commerce Secretary, Kamkhenpao Zou, Art and Culture Secretary, Thangboi Karong, Forest and Environment Secretary and Thangsang Hmar, Medical Secretary.
The KNA has an estimated strength of 600 cadres armed with an array of weapons like AK-Series, G-series, M-series and 60mm mortar.
Areas of Operation
KNO/KNA operates in the hill districts of Manipur and adjoining areas in Assam. It also has marginal presence in the Kabaw valley in the Northwest of Myanmar.
Finances
The KNA primarily depends on extortion for financing its activities.
Linkages
The KNO/KNA maintains strategic linkages with the Kachin Independent Organisation/ Kachin Independent Army, the Democratic Alliance of Burma, an alliance of pro-democracy exile organizations and ethnic insurgent organizations in Myanmar and the Federation of Ethnic Nationalities of Burma. It is also known to have close working relationship with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K). Earlier, it maintained links with outfits such as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Assam-based United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). However, such linkages have weakened over the years. KNA is also an affiliate of the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front, an umbrella organization of several militant outfits, including the ULFA, UNLF and the NSCN-K.
Negotiations
KNA has avoided confrontation with the security forces and have made appeals and sent petitions to the Union Government and other high-level officials in New Delhi for fulfilling their objectives. Memoranda submitted to the Government of India since 1995 include:
1. October 2, 1995: Memorandum to P. V. Narasimha Rao, Prime Minister.
2. October 4, 1995: Memorandum to A. B. Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition.
3. June 17, 1996: Memorandum to H. D. Deve Gowda, Prime Minister.
4. January 27, 1997: Memorandum to K. R. Narayanan, President of India.
5. July 30, 2004: Memorandum to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister.
On September 22, 2005, the Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informed in the Manipur capital Imphal that at least eight militant outfits (including the KNA) in Manipur have declared informal ceasefires' with the Union Government. However, on January 31, 2006, the agreement expired.
Incidents
2007
July 15: Two labourers, identified as Yumnam Ibungo and Keisham Inaobi, are assaulted by unidentified KNA cadres at Samusong village in the Senapati district.
July 14: Police arrested the ‘army chief’ of KNA, Seikhojang Haokip alias Robert, from Imphal airport. He is arrested from the passengers’ lounge of the airport waiting to board a Delhi-bound flight. "We took the KNA leader into custody because the state government does not recognise the outfit’s arrangement with the army. We are interrogating him," Imphal West superintendent of police Clay Khongsai said.
June 8: Police arrested two KNA cadres, Kangjam Chittaranjan alias Taton alias Jack and Arambam Bhagat alias Dudu, at Langol Game Village in the Imphal West district.
May 23: Police personnel arrested two KNA cadres, identified as T.S. Chochon and Paolun alias Helun Haokip, at Hatta Golapati area in the Imphal East district.
April 24: Two suspected KNA cadres, identified as Haokhmang Haokip and Lhunminlan Khongsai, are shot dead by its rival KNF-P at Sapermaina Bazaar in the Senapati district.
March 13: Six militants belonging to the KNA are killed while one sustained injuries in a factional fight with the KNF at Phaijang village in the Senapati district.
February 5: A KNF militant belonging to the President faction, identified as Hengoumang Kipgen was killed and another cadre was injured in an internecine clash at Koubru Leikha under Sapermaina police station in the Senapati district.
February 5: A Kuki National Front (KNF) militant belonging to the President faction was killed and another belonging to the Kuki National Army (KNA) was injured in an internecine clash between two outfits at Koubru Leikha under Sapermaina police station in the Senapati district. The killed KNF militant was identified as Hengoumang Kipgen
2006
December 23: The Kuki National Organisation (KNO), the political wing of Kuki National Army (KNA), asked the UNLF and its armed wing, Manipur People's Army (MPA), to stop operating in Kuki areas, stating their presence and activities have caused serious harm to the Kuki communities.
December 4: A civilian, Hoichong Haokip, is killed in crossfire between security force personnel and the Kuki National Army cadres at Sipiyang village in the Senapati district .Police sources said one M-16 rifle, two magazines, several live rounds, eight number of letter heads, photographs, dresses, magazine pouch and shoulder badges bearing KNA logo were recovered from the incident site.
November 30: The 'public relation officer' of the Samuel faction of the Kuki National Front, 'captain' Namjapao, was shot dead and another cadre, Henjapao, sustained injuries when they were attacked by the rival Kuki National Army cadres at Bijang in the Churachandpur district.
November 21: A civilian, identified as Hatneo, was injured in a crossfire that followed the attack on a camp of the KNA by a rival unidentified outfit at Muolvailup village in the Ukhrul district.
November 9: The Kuki National Army militants reportedly seized seven grams of heroin No. 4 from at least 15 alleged drug traffickers at various places in Tuibuong and Hmar Veng areas of Churachandpur district.
November 7: Suspected KNA militants shot dead a woman, Nemkhohoi alias Hoineu, at Tuibuong Hmarveng area in the Churachandpur district. District police recovered the dead body and also recovered a few grams of heroin from her possession.
October 21: Three suspected KNA cadres are killed in an attack by militants belonging to the KRA at Ekou under Saikul police station in the Senapati district.
September 21: Three ZRA cadres are beaten to death after being abducted by rival cadres of the KNA at Sielmat in the Churachandpur district.
August 2: KNA kills a civilian, R.K. Pratap, at Saparmeina Bazaar in the Senapati district.
2005
September 22: Union Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee informs in Imphal that at least eight militant outfits (including the KNA) in Manipur have declared informal ceasefires' with the Union Government.
March 6: A KNA cadre is killed at Kanglatombi in the Imphal West district
January 20: KNA cadres abduct Additional Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department from Khumanom village in the Churachandpur district.
January 12: A combined team of the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) militants kill the ‘chief’ of Kuki National Army (KNA), Vipin Haokip, during an internecine clash at Bijang in the Churachandpur district.
January 12: Security force personnel kill a suspected KNA militant, identified as Zangkhopao Kuki, during an encounter between Panshang and Molnom villages in the Ukhrul district.
January 7: KNA cadres kill a student, identified as Tongthang Khongsai, at Molnom Kuki village in the Ukhrul district .
2004
November 16: The Imphal East district police during a search operation arrested a KNA cadre, identified as Hegin Lupho alias Paogin, from Mahabali Kabui village in the Imphal East district.
September 21: Security forces arrest two militants belonging to the Kuki National Front-Military Council (KNF-MC) and the KNA during cordon and search operations at New Checkon in the Imphal East district.
2003
January 20: KNA militant abducts the Additional Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department from Khumanom village in the Churachandpur district.
2002
September 1: Manipur Police arrest two KNA militants at Pureilomba in the Imphal East district. They had allegedly come to collect an extortion amount of INR 2.7 lakh from a local businessman.
April 8: The KNA declares a cease-fire with the NSCN-IM.
1997
June 13: Fifteen Myanmar security force personnel and 10 civilians are killed as the KNA ambushes an Army truck at Thenjen village of Myanmar bordering the Chandel district of Manipur.
1994
October 23: Chief of KNA, Hanglen, in a press statement, ‘vows to establish’ a ‘Kuki State’ within Burma (Myanmar).
1993
April 15: KNA militants kill four Naga militants and set ablaze their houses in the Parouland and Kutal Khunthak villages of Chandel district.
Source: http://satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/manipur/terrorist_outfits/kna.htm
