The rise of the Kuki chin army: how demographic shifts and human security crisis fueled insurgency in the Chittagong hill tracts
摘要
Human security crisis and demographic changes are intertwined and affect the socio-political, economic, and environmental stability of a region. These dynamics have been instrumental in the conflict in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh, especially in the case of the Kuki Chin Army insurgency. This paper seeks to explore the emergence of the Kuki Chin Army, with particular reference to the fact that demographic changes and the intensification of the human security crisis have been the major causes of insurgency in the area. State policies, such as the forced resettlement of ethnic groups to make way for the Kaptai Hydro Dam and the organized transmigration of Bengali population have transformed the demographic landscape of the region radically. These demographic shifts have increased competition over resources, caused land conflicts, and have destabilized the socio-political equilibrium in the CHT, further marginalizing the ethnic minorities. The situation in the region has also been worsened by the human security crisis that was caused by the demographic changes. Because of these tensions, groups such as the Kuki Chin Army have emerged, which have taken the form of an insurgent force to meet the unmet needs of ethnic groups. The emergence of the Kuki Chin Army can be attributed to the state’s failure to mitigate the adverse effects of demographic change and the human security threats that have persistently defined the region. Although state-sponsored politics of factionalism have contributed to the creation of divisions among the ethnic groups, this paper has pointed out that demographic changes and human security issues are the fundamental issues that have led to the insurgency. This paper highlights the necessity of sustainable reforms through an examination of the demographic changes and the human security crisis.