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The Kuki National Army (KNA) is a Kuki insurgent group active in Upper Myanmar and in pockets of Northeast India. It is the armed wing of the Kuki National Organisation.

History

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).

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).

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, which lasted until 2023.

Recent activities in Myanmar

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. In October 2023, it joined Kachin Independence Army in an assault, in which they managed to captured a strategic Aungja base. In December of the same year, Kuki insurgents and the local People's Defense Force seized a base in Tamu township, Sagaing Region.

Recent activities in India

As ethnic tensions between Meitei people and other ethnic groups mounted in Manipur, the Government of Manipur, largely controlled by the Meiteis, subsequently decided to end the truce with Kuki National Army in March 2023. 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. However a body called the ‘Village Volunteers, Tengoupal 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.

Leadership

Below is the individuals in leadership positions in KNA(B). PS Haokip, founder of KNO/KNA, is the president and the supreme commander of the Kuki National Organisation.

• 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

The KNA operates two armed wings, one in India and one in Myanmar (known as KNA(B).Total cadre strength in Burma is estimated to be 200+ soldiers.

India

• Northeast India
  • Manipur

Myanmar (Burma)

• Chin State
  • Ton Zang Township
• Sagaing Region
  • Hkamti Township
  • Homalin Township
  • Leshi Township
  • Tamu Township
    • Myothit

References

1. ^ "Kuki National Organization (Burma) Myanmar Peace Monitor". mmpeacemonitor.org. 18 March 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
2. "Kuki National Army, Manipur". www.satp.org. Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
3. Thangboi Zou, S. (2012). "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.
4. "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.
5. "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.
6. "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.
7. 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.
8. "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.
9. "Manipur Body Issues 'Clarification' on Moreh Gunfight, Denies Involvement of Kuki Militant Groups". The Wire. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
10. 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.

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