Manipur valley’s UNLF insurgent faction bids farewell to arms, Amit Shah calls it historic

In a post on X, Shah said, “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.”

Sources in New Delhi said the agreement at the moment is largely on suspension of operations (SoO) which would largely translate into both the UNLF and the security forces not undertaking operations against each other.

In due course, sources said, areas would be identified to build camps for UNLF within the valley where their cadres would stay along with their arms and ammunition under the supervision of the Manipur government and the armed forces.

The UNLF, Manipur valley’s oldest insurgent group. (ANI)

Government sources indicated that talks for a final peace accord between the government and UNLF will continue after the SoO arrangements are put in place.

The UNLF was formed on November 24, 1964, under the leadership of Arambam Samarendra Singh, with the demand for secession from India.

Over the years, the UNLF weakened with splits and the Pambei faction came into being in 2021 under the leadership of its former chairman Khundongbam Pambei after a split with the rest of the central committee. His has been the pro-talks faction while the faction under the chairmanship of NC Koireng has stayed away from talks.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that this is the first time a valley-based insurgent group “has agreed to return to mainstream by abjuring violence”.

“The agreement will not only bring an end to hostilities between UNLF and security forces which have claimed precious lives on both sides over the last more than half a century but also provide an opportunity to address the longstanding concerns of the community. It is hoped that the return of UNLF to the mainstream will also encourage other valley-based armed groups to participate in the peace process in due course,” a statement from the Ministry said.

It stated that a Peace Monitoring Committee will be constituted for the enforcement of agreed ground rules – these ground rules and the terms of the agreement have not been made public.

The Ministry statement also expressed hope that the development would “be a significant step in restoring peace and normalcy” in the state.

The UNLF is one of seven “Meitei Extremist Organizations” banned by the Union government and this ban had been extended for another five years by the MHA on November 13, stating that they have the professed aim of secession of Manipur from India through armed struggle and “and to incite indigenous people of Manipur for such secession.”

While these groups have weakened and waned over the years, the increased activity of cadres of these groups with the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur has been a concern.

According to government estimates, the two factions of the UNLF jointly have about 400-500 cadres and have trained more than 500 recruits in the months since the start of the ethnic conflict in May. Their area of operation includes all the valley areas of Manipur, as well as some villages in the Kuki-Zomi hill districts.

It has camps and training bases in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, Chin State and Rakhine State with the patronage of the Myanmar military but is now on the backfoot there with mounting attacks against the junta by various Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs).

The notification for the extension of the ban had stated that have been “engaging in activities prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India”; engaging in armed means to achieve their objectives; attacking and killing civilians, police and security forces in Manipur; intimidating and extorting civilians to collect funds; maintaining camps in neighbouring countries; and “making contacts with sources abroad” to influence public opinion and secure their assistance to procure arms and training.

On the other hand, a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the Centre, Manipur and the Kuki-Zomi insurgent groups had been reached in 2008.

In March this year, the Manipur government pulled out of the agreement with the Zomi Revolutionary Army and the Kuki National Army, saying they were “influencing agitation among forest encroachers”.