United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNFLW)
In April 2015 several outfits of North East (based in Myanmar) such as United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent), Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland-Songbijit have come under an umbrella organization called United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNFLW). This new and larger outfit is headed by SS Khaplang, the head of the NSCN-K as the chairman.
Perceiving the Threat
Such umbrella organizations are not new in North East. This is the fourth umbrella organisation of its kind. Earlier, in 1986, ULFA, UNLF and NSCN came together to send a combined group to China for training and weapons. In 1989, the Indo Burma Revolutionary Front (IBRF) was formed by UNLF, the NSCN-K, ULFA and Kuki National Army. In mid 1990s,United Liberation Front of Seven Sisters was formed by ULFA and NSCN-K. With a split of ULFA, all the earlier groups became defunct.
Motives
In March 2015, the Khaplang led Myanmar-based NSCN (K) had terminated the ceasefire agreement with Indian government. With increased pressure from the Indian security forces, Khaplang took the initiative to from the UNLFW with other North-East Indian based militant outfits. After its formation it claimed the responsibility of the deadly attack on Indian Army’s Dogra Regiment in Manipur in June 2015.
The UNLFW was formed to launch an effective campaign of independence for the North-East India and the contiguous Naga inhabited region in the Myanmar. These insurgent terror outfits have been demanding secession from India and they have been using the term Western South East Asia (WSEA) to describe the North-East India. The UNFLW stated that the objective of the coalition is the “unified and total struggle” for the liberation of “ancestral homes.”
Analysing : Implications of UNLFW
The UNLFW would be operating from the Myanmar. India government’s repeated pleas to the Myanmar government to eliminate terror activity have fallen on deaf ears. The NSCN-K concluded a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar in 2012. Though the terror groups are operating in Myanmar, the Myanmar government has categorically denied the presence of militants on its soil. Myanmar, in its present situation is not in a position take hostile front with northeast militants as it is already facing troubles with ethnic rebels in Shan State. Since 2012, there has also been an outbreak of communal violence between the Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine State. It is in this backdrop, the UNLFW assumes significance. It is also believed that China was involved with the UNLFW. The coalition could be used by China to further its objectives in Myanmar and also keep an eye on the northeast. The UNLFW already started pursuing its goals with violent attacks. Its continued activities in northeast may pose threat to the developmental activities undertaken by the Indian government in North-East. North-East India is of strategic importance to India to further its ‘Acting East’ policy. To counter the activities of the UNLFW, the Indian government should seriously take up the issue with Myanmar government for eliminating their hideouts in Indian border areas of Myanmar. The formation UNLFW also points to the failure of the Indian government to take forward the talks with militants quickly to find a political solution.
