The Kuki–Naga Conflict In The Light Of Recent Publications

Abstract

This brief article critically reviews various recent essays and publications on the Kuki–Naga conflict of the 1990s. The conflict has resulted in uprooting hundreds of villages, with the loss of more than a thousand lives, destruction of valuable properties and internal displacement. While British colonial policies of governance in Northeast India and the rise of ethnic nationalism among Kukis and Nagas in the post-independence period have been identified as major root causes of the Kuki–Naga conflict, the literature remains inconclusive and this article argues that today competing claims and perceived threats regarding land and territory appear to be the major cause of continuing tensions.

Understanding Ethnicity-based Autonomy Movements: A Study of Manipur

“…For instance, in August 2015, Mr. Walunglua (former Assistant Chief of Aimol Ngairong village, Chandel district) was shot dead by NSCN-IM for opposing attempts to co-opt Aimol tribe within Naga fold ( The Sangai Express , Imphal, 22 August 2015). Through this process, some Kuki tribes (e.g., Anal, Moyon, Maring and Monsang) have merged with Naga fold (Haokip, 2013; Kipgen, 2013; Kom, 2011), shifted from Kuki to Naga fold (Gangte, 2009; Haokip, 2008, pp. 185–208) and Naga to Kuki fold (EPW, 2005, pp.…”

Introducing the 1993 Terrorism and Political Violence Dataset

“…Beginning in late 1992, the conflict reached new heights in 1993, which would pinpoint the bloodiest year in an active conflict that lasted until 1997-taking the lives of 1,000 people and leaving more than 100,000 people internally displaced. 46 In 1993 alone, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) carried out more than 30 attacks on Kuki targets, killing nearly 400 people (primarily civilians). Other Naga militant organizations killed an additional 100 people.…”

Ethnic Separatism

“…The north-east of India has been going through political instability and ethnic insurgencies for decades and the whole region, inhabited by a mosaic of peoples and cultures, has experienced much ethnic conflict (Haokip, 2013;Kipgen, 2013). Since the independence of India and Burma in 1947 and 1948 respectively, various ethnic minorities have been struggling for more autonomy, with more or less success.…”