The South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) Website The SATP Assessment 2001 for the State of Manipur states that at least five "outlawed Meitie (Meitei, Meithei) terrorists groups" - the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and the Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup (KYKL) - have been active in 2000 and "were separetely waging an armed struggle for their common objective of 'an 'independent' Manipur" (n.d.).

SATP also provides a profile on a Meitie underground organisation called Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup (KYKL):

A Meitei underground group called Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup (KYKL), which means "the Organisation to save the revolutionary movement in Manipur" was formed in January 1994 after the merger of the Oken faction of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the Meiraba faction of the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and Ibo Pishak faction of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP). However, KYKL suffered a number of setbacks immediately after its inception. Two of its top leaders - Chairman N. Oken and self-styled Commander-in-Chief N. Thouba Singh were arrested by security forces. During 1995-96, a large number of lower-ranking cadres had either deserted the organisation or surrendered to the authorities. At present, KYKL has a strength of about 200 and is expanding its recruitment base to make up the losses it suffered earlier. It has working "arrangement" with National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM). The ideology of the KYKL is somewhat vague. The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of KYKL, S.K. Loya says that the group stands for nationalism of the entire (North-Eastern) region which is going to be built up on the principle of "All for one and one for all" (ibid.).

A 24 December 1999 Hindustan Times report refers to a "dreaded" Meitie organization called Kangli Yaol Kamba Lup (KYKL), active in the north eastern region State of Manipur. The article also states that Oken was released from jail on parole and that his release would be investigated by the state authorities.

No report on whether members of the Sikh community in the state of Manipur had been tageted by any of the above-mentioned Meitie (Meitei, or Meithei) groups could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

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.

The Hindustan Times [New Delhi]. 23 December 1999. "Manipur Chief Minister, His Deputy Get a Dressing Down." http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/241299/detSTA01.htm [Accessed 7 Feb. 2001]

South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP). n. d. Manipur: Assessement 2001. http://www.satp.org/India/manipur/Assessment_Manipur.htm [Accessed 7 Feb. 2001]

_____. n. d. Manipur: Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup. http://www.satp.org/India/Manipur/Terrorist%20Outfits/KYKL.htm [Accessed 7 Feb. 2001]

IRB databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Mondes rebelles. 1999

Internet sources including:

Amnesty International

Country Reports 1999

Ethnic Conflict Research Digest (INCORE)

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Minorities at Risk Project

World News Connection (WNC)