The People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), in particular whether this group conducts forced recruitment in the region of West Imphal; the arrest of two activists in June 2001 [IND41845.FE]

The People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) was founded in 1977 (Massline.info n.d.; SATP n.d.) by R.K. Tulachandra (ibid.). The PREPAK is a Maoist group fighting for the independence of Manipur (Mondes rebelles 2001, 292). The organization represents the Meiteis (Indian Express 27 Mar. 2003; South Asia Intelligence Review 20 Jan. 2003; The Asian Age 13 Aug. 2001), an ethnic group of Tibetan-Burmese origin who are the largest group in the Indian state of Manipur (Mondes rebelles 2001, 292). The Indian government considers the PREPAK a terrorist group (India 28 Mar. 2002).

The organization's main goal is to drive foreigners out of the state of Manipur (SATP n.d.). According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), the PREPAK chairman is a man named Achamba, while another named Tajila acts as his commander-in-chief (ibid.). The PREPAK is approximately 200 members strong (ibid.) and one of the main insurgent groups in the state of Manipur (The Asian Age 13 Aug. 2001). PREPAK members have been trained by the Isak Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) (SATP n.d.). Like the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the PREPAK is part of the Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF) (ibid.; Times of India 30 July 2003; South Asia Intelligence Review 20 Jan. 2003; The Telegraph 18 Oct. 2002).

PREPAK activities are carried out in the following regions: Manipur Valley, the Mizoram and North Tripura regions, and the Chantel (Manipur) and Mon (Nagaland) districts (SATP n.d.). According to the SATP, the PREPAK has "received weapons and training in exchange for hard cash from the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) of Myanmar" (ibid.). It is also reported to have training camps in Bangladesh (ibid.).

There were several incidents involving PREPAK members between 1999 and 2003. For a summary of them, please consult the SATP Website at the following address: http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/manipur/terrorist_ outfits/Prepak.htm. For more information on Meitei armed groups, please see IND41629.FE of 5 June 2003. No information regarding the forced recruitment of PREPAK members or the arrest of two PREPAK activists in June 2001 could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


The Asian Age [New Delhi]. 13 August 2001. M.K Narayaman. "Indian Columnist Views Center's Successive Mistakes in Handling Naga Issue." (FBIS-NES-2001-0813 14 Aug. 2001/Dialog)

India. 28 March 2002. Ministry of Law, Justice and Company Affairs. "The Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance, 2001." http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/India/document/actandordinances/POTO.htm [Accessed 12 Aug. 2003]

Indian Express [Delhi]. 27 March 2003. "Efforts on to Free German." (Financial Times/Dialog)

Massline.info. n.d. "People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak." http://www.massline.info/India/Indian_Groups.htm [Accessed 11 Aug. 2003]

Mondes rebelles : guérillas, milices, groupes terroristes. 2001. Arnaud De la Grange and Jean-Marc Balancie. Paris: Éditions Michalon.

South Asia Intelligence Review. 20 January 2003. Vol. 1, No. 27. Wasbir Hussain. "The Northeast: Tackling a Rebellion, Quelling a Revolt." http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/1-27.htm [Accessed 11 Aug. 2003]

South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). n.d. "People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak." http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/manipur/terrorist_outfits/Prepak.htm [Accessed 11 Aug. 2003]

The Telegraph [Calcutta]. 18 October 2002. Oinam Sunil. "India: Three Underground Outfits of Manipur Unite Under One Banner." (FBIS-NES-2002-1018 21 Oct. 2002/Dialog)

Times of India [New Delhi]. 30 July 2003. Oinam Sunil. "Attack on Manipur CM Deliberate: Official." (Financial Times/Dialog)

Additional Sources Consulted


Extremist Groups: An International Compilation of Terrorist Organisations, Violent Political Groups and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements, 2002.

IRB Databases

WNC

Internet sites, including:

Amnesty International

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002

Deepika

Dudley Know Library

Ecoi.net

EIN News

Human Rights Watch

Patterns of Global Terrorism 2002

South Asia Intelligence Review

The Statesman

Thousands of Newspapers on the Web

United Kingdom, Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND)

The Voice of Millions

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