The Tedim Township Council has announced that the People’s Defence Army-Tedim (PDA-Tedim) and allied forces will launch an offensive to capture the towns of Tedim and Khaikam in northern Chin State, issuing a notice for civilians to prepare in a timely manner.
The township council released a statement titled “Notice to the public within Tedim Township for timely preparation” on 14 January.
The council emphasized in their statement that since PDA-Tedim, as the township’s official force, will be conducting the offensive alongside allied forces, no other organizations have the right to object to this operation.
The statement noted: “Since we’re taking back our own town, we’re calling for and requesting help from any resistance organizations who want to join forces and fight to eliminate the military council troops.”
According to PDA-Tedim, they will work with military allies to quickly seize control of these areas, as junta troops remain only in Tedim and Khaikam, which are predominantly inhabited by Zomi (Chin) people.
In response to this announcement, PDF-Zoland issued a counter-statement saying: “We won’t hand over Tedim Township to anyone – not the military council, not the joint CNF forces of the Chinland Government, and not PDA-Tedim. If they try to enter despite our prohibition, we’ll team up with Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) and Chin allies to drive them out decisively.”
The Zomi Federal Union/People’s Defense Force-Zoland (ZFU/PDF-Zoland) released their response titled “Presenting the current Chin State’s situation to the public” on the same day, 14 January.
The PDF-Zoland’s statement asserts that the actions of the Chin National Front/Chin National Army (CNF/CNA) and join Chin resistance forces show no consideration for public welfare, being driven solely by exploitation and desire for political advantage. The statement warns that “without timely preparations, they will suffer severe consequences if they face public judgment one day.”
According to the ZFU/PDF-Zoland’s statement, while the Chin Brotherhood (CB) has already established operational plans to definitively capture Tedim town from junta troops, the joint CNA forces are using PDA-Tedim in an effort to capture the town.
The ZFU/PDF-Zoland issued a stern warning that they “won’t stand idly by against any group attempting to interfere with the Zomi people’s right to self-determination.”
Just as the Tedim Township Council and PDA-Tedim have called for public support through prayers for the Tedim offensive, the ZFU/PDF-Zoland is also calling for all people to unite in defending their territory.
Within Tedim Township, Chin defense forces including PDA-Tedim, PDF-Zoland, Chinland Defence Force-Civic Defence Militia–Siyin (CDF-CDM Siyin), and Hualngoram-CDF are actively fighting against the junta troops in the anti-dictatorship revolution, while the Zomi Revolutionary Army-Eastern Command (ZRA-EC) remains non-combative against the military junta.
The PDA-Tedim, CDF-CDM Siyin, and Hualngoram-CDF are defense forces affiliated with the Chinland Council and Chinland Government, while PDF-Zoland collaborates militarily and politically with the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) and the Chin Brotherhood.
In mid-2024, during the offensive for Matupi, there were casualties and injuries among some Chin defense forces when the joint Chinland Council forces and the allied forces of Chin Brotherhood and Arakha Army (AA) exchanged fire.
Tedim Township is home to various ethnic groups including Sizang, Tay-Zan, Thado, Khonu, Siyin, Hulngo, Ngawn, Zo, and Dim, collectively known as Zomi Chin or Tedim Chin.
The Chinland Council (CC) and Chinland Government include organizations such as the CNF/CNA, CDF-Matupi Brigade 2, CDF-Lautu, CDF-Zotung, CDF-Paletwa, CDF-Hualngoram, CDF-Tonzang, CDF-Hakha, CDF-Thantlang, CDF-KKG, CDF-Zophei, CDF/CDM-SIYIN, PDA-Tedim, CDF-Zanniatram, Senthang Revolution Force, and Kanpetlet Council.
The Chin Brotherhood (CB) and ICNCC include the Chin National Council (Mindat), Chinland Defence Force-Mindat (CDF-Mindat), Chin National Organization/Chin National Defense Force (CNO/CNDF), Zomi Federal Union (ZFU/PDF-Zoland), CDF-Kanpetlet/Kanpetlet Township Council, Maraland Territorial Council/Maraland Defence Force (MTC/MDF), and CDF-Matupi Brigade-1.