Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council
Encyclopedia
The Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) is a militant organization operating in Meghalaya
, India
. It claims to be a representative of the Khasi-Jaintia tribal people, and its aim is to free the Meghalaya from the alleged Garo
domination and the non-tribal outsiders (the "Dkhars"). It was proscribed in India on 16 November 2000.
state was carved out of the Assam
state, with an aim to address the unique needs of the major tribes in the region: the Garo
s, the Jaintias and the Khasis. However, discontent grew among the tribals due to the alleged high-handedness of the security forces, the youth unemployment and the inability to compete with non-tribal businesses. This led to the rise of several insurgent groups in the state.
The origins of HNLC lie in the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALC), the first militant organization in Meghalaya, which claimed to be a representative of the three major tribes of the state. After a split occurred in HALC over tribal differences, the Garo members formed a new outfit called Achik Matgrik Liberation Army (AMLA), while the Khasi and Jaintia members formed the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in 1993.
The original HNLC leadership consisted of:
Julius K Dorphang resigned and surrendered to the Government of India on 24 July 2007, as a result of the internal differences within HNLC.
region, and has carried out a number of activities in Shillong
, the capital of Meghalaya. The top HNLC leadership is based in Dhaka
, the capital of the neighbouring country Bangladesh
. Some of its camps are also located in Bangladesh, mostly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
.
HNLC has claimed that it has tried to help the Khasi people and to make the society better. It launched Operation Kyllang (hurricane) to publicly punish rapists by torturing them, and claims to have reduced the crime in the Khasi Hills. It also calls for the boycott of the Indian Independence Day celebrations every year. It is opposed to the civil polls in Meghalaya, alleging that the elections would make the traditional tribal institutions powerless.
-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland
(NDFB), the National Liberation Front of Tripura
(NLFT) and the United Liberation Front of Asom
(ULFA). NSCN provided it moral, physical and financial support in its initial days.
The organization has obtained the Chinese weapons sold by the Wa tribe
of Burma. These weapons were brought to the black arms markets in Bandarban and Sylhet
of Bangladesh via Manipur and Mizoram, after being picked along the Indo-Myanmar border.
HNLC runs several businesses in Bangladesh, including a stone quarry in Jaflong
and several betel nut plantations.
The outfit has expressed desire to hold political dialogues with the Meghalaya Government, including in August 2010. The Shillong Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders Forum was designated as the official negotiator with HNLC.
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It claims to be a representative of the Khasi-Jaintia tribal people, and its aim is to free the Meghalaya from the alleged Garo
Garo
-Garo People and languages :* Garo , a tribe in India and Bangladesh.* Bodo-Garo languages, a small family of Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in eastern India,** Garo language, the language spoken by the Garo tribe...
domination and the non-tribal outsiders (the "Dkhars"). It was proscribed in India on 16 November 2000.
Origin
The MeghalayaMeghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
state was carved out of the Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
state, with an aim to address the unique needs of the major tribes in the region: the Garo
Garo
-Garo People and languages :* Garo , a tribe in India and Bangladesh.* Bodo-Garo languages, a small family of Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in eastern India,** Garo language, the language spoken by the Garo tribe...
s, the Jaintias and the Khasis. However, discontent grew among the tribals due to the alleged high-handedness of the security forces, the youth unemployment and the inability to compete with non-tribal businesses. This led to the rise of several insurgent groups in the state.
The origins of HNLC lie in the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council (HALC), the first militant organization in Meghalaya, which claimed to be a representative of the three major tribes of the state. After a split occurred in HALC over tribal differences, the Garo members formed a new outfit called Achik Matgrik Liberation Army (AMLA), while the Khasi and Jaintia members formed the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) in 1993.
The original HNLC leadership consisted of:
- Julius K Dorphang, Chairman
- Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, General Secretary
- M. Diengdoh, Publicity Secretary
- Bobby Marwein, Commander-in-Chief
Julius K Dorphang resigned and surrendered to the Government of India on 24 July 2007, as a result of the internal differences within HNLC.
Area of operation
The HNLC primarily operates in the Khasi HillsKhasi Hills
The Khasi Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in the Indian state of Meghalaya, and is part of the Patkai range and of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion...
region, and has carried out a number of activities in Shillong
Shillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
, the capital of Meghalaya. The top HNLC leadership is based in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, the capital of the neighbouring country Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. Some of its camps are also located in Bangladesh, mostly in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
.
Activities
The State Government and the Meghalaya police have accused HNLC of indulging in a number of illegal activities, including killing, abduction, robbery, arms smuggling, cattle smuggling and extortion in the Jaintia Hills coal belt. It has also been accused of circulating fake currency in the state, supported by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan.HNLC has claimed that it has tried to help the Khasi people and to make the society better. It launched Operation Kyllang (hurricane) to publicly punish rapists by torturing them, and claims to have reduced the crime in the Khasi Hills. It also calls for the boycott of the Indian Independence Day celebrations every year. It is opposed to the civil polls in Meghalaya, alleging that the elections would make the traditional tribal institutions powerless.
Funding and sourcing of weapons
Over the years, HNLC built ties with the other secessionist organizations operating in North-East India, including the National Socialist Council of NagalandNational Socialist Council of Nagaland
The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland is a Naga nationalist militant group operating in Northeast India. Its aim is to establish a Christian socialist state based on Maoism in the areas inhabited by the Naga people in Northeast India and Burma.-Formation:The National Socialist Council of...
-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland
National Democratic Front of Bodoland
The National Democratic Front of Bodoland, also known as NDFB or the Bodo Security Force, is a terrorist outfit which seeks to obtain a sovereign Bodoland for the Bodo people in Assam, India. The founder of the organization, Ransaigra Nabla Daimary, alias Ranjan Daimary has been arrested and...
(NDFB), the National Liberation Front of Tripura
National Liberation Front of Tripura
The National Liberation Front of Tripura is a Tripuri nationalist militant organization based in Tripura, India.The NLFT seeks to secede from India and establish an independent Tripuri state, and has actively participated in the Tripura Rebellion...
(NLFT) and the United Liberation Front of Asom
United Liberation Front of Asom
The United Liberation Front of Asom is a separatist group from Assam, among many other such groups in North-East India. It seeks to establish a sovereign Assam via an armed struggle in the Assam Conflict...
(ULFA). NSCN provided it moral, physical and financial support in its initial days.
The organization has obtained the Chinese weapons sold by the Wa tribe
Va people
The Va nationality lives mainly in Northern Burma, in the northern part of Shan and eastern Kachin States, near and along the border with China. Their defacto capital is Pangkham in the unofficial Wa State in North Eastern Shan state. The majority of the Va live in Burma...
of Burma. These weapons were brought to the black arms markets in Bandarban and Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
of Bangladesh via Manipur and Mizoram, after being picked along the Indo-Myanmar border.
HNLC runs several businesses in Bangladesh, including a stone quarry in Jaflong
Jaflong
Jaflong is a natural tourist spot in the Division of Sylhet, Bangladesh. It is located in Gowainghat Upazila of Sylhet District and situated at the border between Bangladesh and the Indian state of Meghalaya. It is just below the mountain range...
and several betel nut plantations.
Decline
Several of the HNLC members have surrendered over the years. Julius K Dorphan, the former chairman of the outfit, who surrendered in 2007, claims that "HNLC is nothing now", with only 55 cadres left in Bangladesh as of 2010.The outfit has expressed desire to hold political dialogues with the Meghalaya Government, including in August 2010. The Shillong Khasi Jaintia Church Leaders Forum was designated as the official negotiator with HNLC.