Chin National Army (CNA) and Chin civilian resistance groups clashed with Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) last week in Chin State’s Tedim Township during the first incident of fighting with the Zomi armed group that transformed into a Border Guard Force a number of years ago.
Khonumthung News spoke with Salai Htet Ni,spokesperson for CNA’s political wing, Chin National Front (CNF), for more information about why the Chin armed groups are fighting.
Can you explain what happened and why it happened?
It’s true that the CNF and Chinland Defence Force, Zoland People’s Defence Force, Zomi and National Defence Force clashed with the ZRA on 17 December. It happened because ZRA is affiliated with Burma Army (BA) in Tedim. We received information from former members of the armed forces who joined the civil disobedience movement that the ZRA and BA planned to attack us in Tedim Township. And the fighting started after ZRA troops invaded our area.
Were there any causalities from the clash?
They started firing at us and our troop defended themselves by returning fire, killing five ZRA soldiers but no one from our side died.
Now that there’s fighting between Chin armed organisations what will happen next and how will it impact relations among the Chin people?
In my opinion, how this affects our relationship will depend on the policies of the different organisations. As far as we are concerned, we stand by the side of the people and working with those who started the Spring Revolution. During this ‘people’s revolution’, we plan to dismantle the military dictatorship and build a federal democratic union. If there are any organisations that oppose these goals, we will also oppose them.
Can you comment about a statement by the Zomi Political Coordination Committee/ Zomi Revolutionary Army (Eastern Command) accusing the CNF of abducted a pastor from Haimwi and a child from Gawsing?
We did not abduct a pastor or a child, but we summoned them for questioning about the ZRA movement and released them afterwards.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
We have different political objectives, strategies, goals and agendas, but I am very upset that we are fighting each other. They planned to attack us and that is why we had to defend ourselves. Nevertheless, we have to be careful when the regime tries to turn brother against brother, like two male roosters who are from the same family fighting each other. We all need to carefully examine this kind of instigation by the junta.