The Chin National Front (CNF) has opposed the dictatorship seeking to build a federal union in the country with the interim National Unity Government (NUG) to achieve freedom, equality and the right to self-determination for the Chin people.
In a statement on its 34th anniversary on 20 March, the ethnic armed group pledged to continue to work with the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) and other civilian resistance groups fighting the regime to restore peace and stability in Chin State and Burma. Khonumthung News spoke to CNF spokesperson Salai Htet Ni about the ethnic armed group’s goals for the future.
Can you elaborate more on your recent statement?
We’ve said that we must rebuild our Chin land and at the same time restore peace in our state. After the military coup, the Chin people lost everything. Some houses were completely destroyed by the military junta. We have to rebuild these houses for our people. We need to work for our people. Our people need a guarantee of security. And that’s why we have chosen armed struggle. To protect our people, we need to end the military dictatorship. That’s why we’re working closely with local PDFs and brotherhood alliances and have jointly launched a military operation against the military junta. We plan to intensify our military attacks against the regime. We promised all this in our statement.
CNF plans to implement administration, regional security and the rule of law in Chin State. Can you explain how this will happen?
Regional civil administration or local government has already been implemented in our Chin land. And the CNF is working with these departments to rebuild our Chin State. We established an interim Chin National Consultative Council. We’re also working with NUG and the Committee Representing Parliament Hluttaw.
Can you tell about the current military situation in Chin State and CNF’s relationship with the other revolutionary groups?
We’re working with the local defence forces. We’ve already formed a Chinland Joint Defense Committee (CJDC) with the Chinland Defence Force. We’ve launched joint military operations in all nine townships of Chin State. The Burma Army (BA) is stationed in the town and patrols the town and surrounding areas. Therefore, the CJDC has launched a military operation against the BA either in the town or on the road connecting the towns in all townships. We have control of the outlying villages, not the BA, who cannot currently enter these areas.
How much control does the BA actually have in Chin State?
According to our observations, the junta is in charge of the towns. In the villages, it has no control. Even in the towns, the regime cannot fully manage its departments. Almost all government departments in Chin State have stopped working.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
We have to abolish the military dictatorship and build a federal democratic union. That’s why we’re putting our lives on the line. I think everyone must participate in this struggle. The political situation in our country is at a crossroads. Our people mustn’t give up their hope. We all have to fight against the military junta until the very end.