- By Vivek Raj
- Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the oldest militant group in India's Northeastern region on Wednesday signed a peace accord with the central government, marking it as a historic milestone. With this, the six-decade-long armed movement comes to an end.
“A historic milestone achieved. UNLF, the oldest valley-based armed group of Manipur has agreed to renounce violence and join the mainstream. I welcome them to the democratic processes and wish them all the best in their journey on the path of peace and progress,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X after the peace agreement.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh during a meeting with United National Liberation Front (UNLF), an insurgent group of Manipur, after they signed a peace agreement with the Central Government, on Wednesday. (ANI Photo)
Background And Historical Context
In the aftermath of India's independence, insurgency flames were ignited in the Northeast. Zapu Ngami Phizo led the demand for an independent Nagaland. In 1949, Manipur, an erstwhile independent state, was merged into India, leading to its classification as a Part C State of the Indian Union.
Arambam Samarendra, pursuing his Masters in English Literature in Pune, closely observed these geopolitical shifts. Disturbed by Manipur's transformation into a Union Territory and the elevation of the Naga Hills to statehood due to armed resistance, Samarendra returned to Imphal. On November 24, 1964, he founded the UNLF, uniting people from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
The UNLF was founded with the following key members: Sana Yaima (Chairman), Kalalung Kamei, (President), Thankhopao Singsit, (Vice-President), Arambam Samarendra, (General Secretary), Longjam Manimohan, Laishram Kanhai, Nongmeikapam Sanajaoba, and Nongmaithem Pahari as members.
Ideology and Armed Rebellion Developments:
The UNLF aimed to establish an independent socialist Manipur. In September 2012, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) acknowledged that the activities orchestrated by the UNLF were geared towards achieving sovereignty in the state of Manipur. The militant group considered NIA’s statement as a big political victory.
For years, UNLF focused on cadre-building, recruiting subscribers who contributed a portion of their income to the cause. Samarendra started to build ties with Naga insurgents in Myanmar in 1976. By the late 1980s, conditions in Manipur became conducive to armed resistance due to widespread corruption and lawlessness.
Shortly after its inception, United National Liberation Front (UNLF) leaders forged political ties with the authorities of then East Pakistan, undertaking military training in the country in 1969. The group also supported the Pakistani army during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
On June 14, 1975, UNLF leader N. Bisheswar Singh, accompanied by 16 other Meitei rebels, traveled to Lhasa to seek Chinese assistance. The group has also established links with Naga and Mizo terrorist outfits.
In a collaborative move on May 22, 1990, the UNLF, alongside other insurgent groups in the Northeast – the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), and the Kuki National Army (KNA) – started a pan-Mongoloid coalition named the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front (IBRF) to collectively advocate for the independence of Indo-Burma.
UNLF's People’s Liberation Army
After a decade of functioning as a social organisation, the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) embarked on armed resistance in the early nineties. Around mid-1990, the decision was made to initiate an armed struggle for the 'liberation' of Manipur from India and UNLF established an armed wing known as the Manipur People's Army (MPA). R.K. Meghen played a pivotal role in establishing ties with Naga insurgents based in the Somra Tract in Myanmar in 1976, setting the stage for armed mobilization.
UNLF Cadres
UNLF's first armed action occurred in December 1991, targeting Indian security forces in the Loktak hydel project area, located 30 km from Imphal. The ambush resulted in the death of five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel at the hands of MPA militants.
In 1990, internal discord led to a faction, led by Namoijam Oken, breaking away from UNLF, and forming the UNLF (Oken group). This sparked violent factional clashes between the two groups, claiming more than one hundred lives. Following that, the UNLF (Oken group) merged with factions of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), resulting in the formation of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL).
On June 10, 2000, UNLF's founder, Arambam Samarendra Singh, was shot dead by KYKL cadres during a public function. Samarendra had become a prominent playwright, novelist, and lyricist by then.
UNLF’s Four-Point Peace Proposal:
In September 2006, the UNLF put forth a four-point formula to address the conflict in Manipur. The key components of the proposal were:
-Plebiscite supervised by the United Nations (UN): The suggestion involved conducting a plebiscite under UN supervision to gauge the opinion of the people of Manipur on the fundamental issue of restoring the state's independence.
-UN Peace-Keeping Force Deployment: The UNLF proposed the deployment of a UN peace-keeping force in Manipur to ensure a free and fair process during the plebiscite.
-Arms Surrender by UNLF: As part of the process, the UNLF committed to surrendering its arms, with a reciprocal action of the withdrawal of Indian troops from Manipur.
-Political Power Handover: The final element of the proposal said, handing over the power by the UN in accordance with the results of the plebiscite.
The proposal was rejected by the state government.