Kuki-Chin National Front

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Kuki-Chin National Front
AbbreviationKNF
Leader Nathan Bom
Chief Coordinator Cheosim Bom [1]  (POW)
FounderNathan Bom
Founded2008(17 years ago) (2008)
(as Kuki-Chin National Development Organization)
2017(8 years ago) (2017)
(current form)
Headquarters Chin state, Myanmar
Armed wing Kuki-Chin National Army
Ideology Autonomy demands [2] [3]
Anti-Chakma sentiment [2] [3] [4]
Anti-Marma sentiment [3] [2]
Anti-Tripuri sentiment [3]
Kuki-Chin interests [3]
Slogan"Nehnak Chu Lalpa Ta"
Party flag
Kuki-Chin National Front Flag.png
Website
Kuki-Chin National Front - KNF Facebook [a]

^  a: KNF has no official website, but it maintains an official facebook page where it updates about its activities.

The Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), also known as the Bom Party, [5] is a banned ethno-nationalist armed militant political organization in Bangladesh based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Established by Nathan Bom in 2008, KNF aims to establish a separate autonomous or independent state for Bawm, Pangkhua, Lushai, Khumi, Mru & Khiang peoples with nine subdistricts (upazilas) of Rangamati and Bandarban districts. [5] [6] The Front has an armed wing called Kuki-Chin National Army. According to Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies, Kuki-Chin National Front has received weapons from Kachin State in Myanmar, [7] and also has ties with Karen rebels. [8]

Contents

History

The red-colured areas in this map of the Chittagong Hill Tracts indicate to the proposed Kuki-Chin State. Most of the territories demanded by KNF fall under Rangamati and Bandarban districts Proposed map of Kuki-Chin State (en).svg
The red-colured areas in this map of the Chittagong Hill Tracts indicate to the proposed Kuki-Chin State. Most of the territories demanded by KNF fall under Rangamati and Bandarban districts

Kuki-Chin National Front was established in 2017 by members of the Bawm people in Bangladesh with two thousand personnel. [7] The Bawm community is mostly Christian and accuses the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti of discrimination. [7] The founding president of the Kuki-Chin National Front is Nathan Bom, a graduate of fine arts from the University of Dhaka. [7] He was previously involved with the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti's student wing, the Pahari Chhatra Parishad, and founded the Kuki-Chin National Development Organization in 2008 and renamed to Kuki-Chin National Volunteers (KNV) in 2016. [7] [5] KNV developed relations with the rebels of the Manipur state of India and Chin state of Myanmar. [3] In the first batch of KNV fighters, over a hundred members of the organization were sent to Manipur for training, followed by 100 members to be sent to India's Manipur and Myanmar's Karen and Kachin states. [3] The Kuki-Chin National Volunteers would become the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) in 2020. [5]

In June 2022, the Kuki-Chin National Front attacked a camp of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti, killing three in Belaichhari Upazila, Rangamati District. [9] In October, tourists were sent back from Bandarban District in preparation for an operation by Bangladesh Army and other security forces against Kuki-Chin National Front, escalating to the second phase of the Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict. [10] In November 2022, Bangladesh Army launched a drive against Kuki-Chin National Front which saw 270 Kuki people seek refuge in Mizoram State in India. [11] [12]

In February 2023, Rapid Action Battalion arrested 17 personnel of Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and three members of Kuki-Chin National Front after a day-long gunfight. [13] They also recovered AK-22 rifles among other weapons and bomb making equipment. [14] Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya paid 1.7 million to Kuki-Chin National Front for weapons. [15] By January 2023, 14 members of Kuki-Chin National Front were detained. [16]

Kuki-Chin National Army

Kuki-Chin National Army
LeaderNathan Bom
Chief of StaffVanchun Lian Master [8]
Dates of operation2022 (2022) – present
CountryFlag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh
AllegianceKuki-Chin National Front
MotivesThe creation of an autonomous Kuki-Chin state in the nine upazilas of Rangamati and Bandarban district
Active regions Chittagong Hill Tracts
Slogan"Fighting for self determination and peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh"[ citation needed ]
StatusActive
Size100 (2016) [3]
2,000 (2024) [17]
Means of revenueRobbery, arms trading
Allies[ citation needed ]
Opponents
Battles and wars Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict (second phase)
Designated as a terrorist group byFlag of Bangladesh.svg Bangladesh [18]

Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA) is the armed wing of Kuki-Chin National Front. [19] Vanchun Lian Master, a vice-principal of the government primary school, is the chief of staff of the Kuki-Chin National Front's armed wing. [8]

From 11 to 17 January 2023, the Bandarban District administration banned tourists in the district due to a security forces' operation against the Kuki-Chin National Army. [20] A bullet hit body of Kuki-Chin National Army personnel was found Ruma Upazila on 30 January 2023 after a gunfight with security forces. [21] Another gunfight took place between Rapid Action Battalion and the Kuki-Chin National Army. [22] On 12 March, the Assam Rifles detained two members of the Kuki-Chin National Army in Mirozam. [23] In April 2023, eight people were killed in a shoot-out between the United People's Democratic Front (Democratic), a fraction of the United People's Democratic Front, and Kuki-Chin National Army in Rowangchhari Upazila, Bandarban District. [19]

Militant activities

References

  1. "Nathan Bom's close associate, KNF 'chief coordinator' arrested". Prothom Alo. 7 April 2024. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 http://www.itvbd.com/analysis/141797 Archived 7 May 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 পাহাড়ে রহস্যময় নাম 'নাথান বম'. Protidiner Sangbad. Archived from the original on 5 May 2024.
  4. Evolution of Kuki Chin National Front as a Separatist Group and Impact on National and Regional Security. Nujhat Amina Jarin. Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies. August 2023. Archived 11 May 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 3 4 "In Chattogram Hill Tracts, a new group of armed insurgents is making waves. Who are they?". bdnews24.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  6. "KNF: Where does it get its funding and what is its endgame?". Dhaka tribune. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Who are these Kuki-Chin armies in the CHT?". Dhaka Tribune. 17 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "KNF disrupting tourism, development works in Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  9. "3 reportedly shot dead in CHT". The Daily Star. 23 June 2022. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  10. "Tourists being sent back from Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  11. "KNF — A New Threat to Regional Security? | CGS". cgs-bd.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  12. "Why Did Bangladesh's Kuki Chin Flee to India's Northeast?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  13. Islam, Shariful; Marma, Mong Sing Hai (8 February 2023). "Bandarban's Thanchi: Rab arrests 17 militants after daylong gunfight". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  14. "Militants held in hills: Educated, yet they chose the wrong path". The Daily Star. 9 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  15. "Jama'atul Ansar financed Tk 17 lakh to buy heavy weapons: Rab". The Daily Star. 4 November 2022. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  16. "12 militants, 14 KNF members arrested so far in anti-militancy drive in Bandarban: Rab". The Business Standard. 12 January 2023. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  17. "Evolution of Kuki Chin National Front as Separatist Group and Impact on National and Region Security" (PDF). Bangladesh Institute Of Peace And Security Studies. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  18. "Govt to go tough on KNF". The Daily Star.
  19. 1 2 "8 killed in 'shootout' between 2 armed groups in Bandarban: police". The Daily Star. 7 April 2023. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  20. "Tourism banned again in Bandarban's Thanchi". Dhaka Tribune. 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  21. "'KNF man' found shot dead in CHT". The Daily Star. 30 January 2023. Archived from the original on 9 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  22. "5 held over RAB-KNF gunfight in Bandarban". Dhaka Tribune. 7 February 2023. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  23. "Mizoram: Two active Kuki Chin National Army cadres arrested by Assam Rifles in Lawgtlalai district". India Today NE. 12 March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  24. "Retired army sergeant abducted by KNA". Prothom Alo. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  25. "Army man killed as KNA activists open fire in Bandarban". businesspostbd.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  26. বান্দরবানে কেএনএর গুলিতে সেনাসদস্য নিহত. banglanews24.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  27. "Kuki-Chin National Army attack kills 2 Army men: ISPR". Prothom Alo. 17 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  28. সোনালি ব্যাংকে ডাকাতি (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 April 2024.
  29. ব্যাংক ডাকাতি (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 April 2024.
  30. পাহাড় জনপদে আতঙ্কের ঢেউ. Bhorer Kagoj (in Bengali). 5 April 2024. Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  31. Sakib, Musanna (5 April 2024). ব্যাংক ম্যানেজারকে ছাড়তে ২০ লাখ টাকা মুক্তিপণ চায় কুকি-চিন: র‍্যাব. Arthosuchak (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 12 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  32. "Sonali Bank manager released as Tk15 lakh ransom paid to KNF". The Business Standard. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  33. "Bandarban raids: Police arrest man associated with KNF". Dhaka Tribune . 10 April 2024. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024.
  34. "3 KNF militants killed in Bandarban army operation".
  35. Two KNA members killed in gunfight with army: ISPR. New Age
  36. Two KNF members killed, arms and ammunition seized in fight in Chittagong Hill Tracts: Bangladesh Army. Narinjara News. Khaing Lu Hla.