List of historical separatist movements in Asia
Appearance
This is a list of historical separatist movements in Asia. Separatism includes autonomism and secessionism.
Criteria[edit]
What is and is not considered an autonomist or secessionist movement is sometimes contentious. Entries on this list must meet three criteria:
- They are no longer an active movement with active members.
- They are demanded greater autonomy or self-determination for a geographic region (as opposed to personal autonomy).
- They were citizens/people of the conflict area and did not come from another country.
Under each region listed is one or more of the following:
- De facto state (de facto entity): for unrecognized regions with de facto autonomy.
- Proposed state: proposed name for a seceding sovereign state.
- Proposed autonomous area: for movements towards greater autonomy for an area but not outright secession.
- De facto autonomous government: for governments with de facto autonomous control over a region.
- Government-in-exile: for a government based outside of the region in question, with or without control.
- Political party (or parties): for political parties involved in a political system to push for autonomy or secession.
- Militant organisation(s): for armed organisations.
- Advocacy group(s): for non-belligerent, non-politically participatory entities.
- Ethnic/ethno-religious/racial/regional/religious group(s).
Bangladesh[edit]
- People: Jumma people
- Political party: Porbotto Chottogram Jonshonghoti Shomiti
- Rebel organisation: Shanti Bahini
- Proposed state: Autonomous Hill Tribes
- Status: Inactive following the 1996 peace treaty between the Government of Bangladesh and the tribal leaders.
- People: Bengali Hindus
- Political party: Swadhin Bangabhumi Andolan
- Rebel organisation: Banga Sena
- Proposed State: Bangabhumi
China[edit]
- De facto state: Chinese Soviet Republic
- Political party: Chinese Communist Party
- Armed organization: Chinese Red Army
- Proposed state: People's Republic of China
- Political party: Chinese Communist Party
- De facto state: Great Mongolian State
- Political organization: Bogd Khanate
- Proposed state: Mongolian People's Republic
- Political party: Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
Cyprus[edit]
- Rebel organizations: EOKA, Turkish Resistance Organisation
France (associated territories)[edit]
- Proposed state: Kingdom of Cambodia
- Political organization: Khmer Issarak
- Proposed state: Laos
- Militant organization: Lao Issara, Pathet Lao
- Proposed state: Democratic Republic of Vietnam
- Political organization: Viet Minh
- Political organization: National Bloc
India[edit]
- People: Sikh
- Militant organisation: Khalistan Liberation Force, Babbar Khalsa, Khalistan Commando Force
- Proposed state: Khalistan
- Status: Separatist movement crushed
- People: Tripuri
- Militant organisation: National Liberation Front of Tripura, All Tripura Tiger Force
- Proposed state: Tipperaland
- Status: Separatist movement crushed
- People: Garo, Khasi
- Militant organisation: Garo National Liberation Army, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council
- Proposed state: Garoland, Hynniewtrep
- Status: Separatist movement crushed
- People: Bodo
- Militant organisation: National Democratic Front of Boroland
- Proposed state: Boroland
- Status: Separatist groups disbanded, surrender agreement signed with government.
- People: Karbi
- Militant organisation: Karbi Longri N.C. Hills Liberation Front, United People's Democratic Solidarity
- Proposed state: Hemprek Kangthim
- Status: Separatist movement crushed. Groups disbanded, surrender agreement signed with government.
- People: Dimasa
- Militant organisation: Dima Halam Daogah
- Proposed state: Dimaraji
- Status: Separatist movement crushed. Groups disbanded, surrender agreement signed with government.
- People: Tani
- Militant organisation: National Liberation Council of Taniland
- Proposed state: Taniland
- Status: Separatist movement crushed
Indonesia[edit]
- Proposed state: Aceh
- Militant organization: Free Aceh Movement
Iran[edit]
- Proposed state: Republic of Mahabad
- Militant organization: Democratic Party of Kurdistan
- Proposed state: Azerbaijan People's Government
- Militant organization: Azerbaijani Democratic Party
- Proposed state: Autonomous Government of Khorasan
- Militant organization: National Committee of Khorasan(Komitey-e Melli-e Khorasan)
Israel/Palestine[edit]
Samaritans in Nablus Governorate, West Bank
- Proposed state: Mount Gerizim
Timor[edit]
- Proposed state: Timor-Leste
- Political party: Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor
Japan[edit]
- De facto state: Republic of Ezo
Maldives[edit]
- Proposed state: United Suvadive Republic
Netherlands (associated territories)[edit]
- Proposed state: Republic of Indonesia
Oman[edit]
- Militant organizations: Dhofar Liberation Front (DLF), Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), Popular Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf/Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG)
Pakistan[edit]
- People: Bengalis (East Pakistanis)
- Political party: Bangladesh Awami League
- Rebel organization: Mukti Bahini
- De facto state: People's Republic of Bangladesh
- Status: Resulted in independence of Bangladesh in 1971 after the Bangladesh Liberation War.
Philippines[edit]
Bangsamoro (Mindanao, Sulu Islands, and Palawan)
- Proposed state: Bangsamoro Republik
- Political organization: Moro National Liberation Front
- Militant organization: Bangsamoro Armed Forces
- Proposed state: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (originally for independence)
- Political organization: Moro Islamic Liberation Front
- Militant organization: Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces
- Proposed state: Federal Republic of Mindanao
- Militant organization: Mindanao People's Democratic Movement
- Advocacy group: Mindanao Independence Movement, Mindanao Freedom Movement
Saudi Arabia[edit]
Hejaz
- Proposed state: Kingdom of Hejaz (restoration of historical kingdom)
- Political organization: Committee for the Liberation of Arabia
Spain (associated territories)[edit]
- Philippine archipelago
- Secessionist entities: Katagalugan, Republic of the Philippines, Cantonal Republic of Negros, Republic of Zamboanga
- Militant organization: Katipunan
- Society: La Liga Filipina
- Ilocos
- Secessionist state: Free Ilocos
- Secessionist entities: Katagalugan, Republic of the Philippines, Cantonal Republic of Negros, Republic of Zamboanga
Sri Lanka[edit]
- Proposed state: Tamil Eelam
- Political party: Tamil National Alliance
- Militant organisation: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
- Advocacy groups: Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, Global Tamil Forum
- Government in exile: Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam[1]
Syria[edit]
- Proposed state: Jabal Druze State
- Rebel organization: Jaysh al-Muwahhideen
Turkey[edit]
- Political party: Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar Party)
- Rebel organization: Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia
United Kingdom (associated territories)[edit]
- Political organization: Dobama Asiayone
- Militant organization: Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, Burma Independence Army, Communist Party of Burma
- Proposed state: India
- Political party: All India Forward Bloc, Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Swaraj Party, Ghadar Party
- Parallel government: Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind
- Rebel organization: Indian National Army
- Proposed state: Federation of Malaya
- Political party: Alliance Party (United Malays National Organisation, Malayan Chinese Association, and Malayan Indian Congress)
- Ethnic groups: Penangites, Penangite Chinese
- Proposed state: Penang
- Organization: Penang Chamber of Commerce[4]
United States (associated territories)[edit]
Commonwealth of the Philippines
- Political party: Nacionalista Party
- Proposed state: Republic of the Philippines
- Ethnic group: Maranao
- Proposed state: Separate independence for Mindanao from the Luzon and Visayas regions. (See Dansalan Declaration)
See also[edit]
- List of historical unrecognized states and dependencies
- List of active separatist movements recognized by intergovernmental organizations
- Lists of separatist movements
References[edit]
- ^ Peacehalle.com
- ^ Webmaster, M. T. (2019-12-04). "Tan Sri Mohd Yussof shares story on the attempt to declare Penang independent of Malaya". Malaysia Today. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
- ^ Sopiee, Mohd. Noordin (March 1973). "The Penang Secession Movement, 1948–1951". Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 4 (1): 52–71. doi:10.1017/S0022463400016416.
- ^ Lyn, Koay Su (2017-03-17). "Penang: The Rebel State (Part Two) - Penang Monthly". penangmonthly.com. Retrieved 2022-07-27.