May 28, 2024 (Tuesday):
The Zomi Revolutionary Army – Eastern Command (ZRA-EC) condemns in the strongest term the unprovoked atrocities committed by the Chin National Front/Army (CNF/A) on the Zomi populace since the past few days. Their brutal acts of crime against humanity manifested through the gruesome killing of innocent Zomi in the most inhuman and barbaric nature, planting landmines in Zomi civilian areas, looting and plundering of Zomi properties, and using of sophisticated weaponry to bomb the Zomi settlements are comparable to that of the Myanmar military regime and its Army! Such unprovoked terror activities perpetrated by the CNF/A has resulted in the displacement of thousands of Zomi people and led to the loss of numerous Zomi lives and properties.
The CNA/F has consistently endeavored to savagely suppress the Zomi voices at all levels, even though the Zomi is the dominant community in the entire Chin State of Myanmar, their recent military posturing has once again exposed their tyrannical and devilish approach.
The ZRA-EC is, therefore, compelled to expose the deceptive narratives used by CNA/F to justify their terror activities.
ON OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY
Like any other indigenous community in the world, the Zomi (Zo+People) have both given names (Chin/Kuki/Lushai) and indigenous names (Zomi/Mizo) which were recorded in different forms as Zo/Yaw/Shaw/Jo. The formation of the Zomi Baptist Convention in 1953 at Saikah Village, Thangtlang Township of Hakha as our national organisation in Myanmar bearing the national name, with the most remarkable spirit of Christian harmony and unity, sealed Zomi as the correct, original, indigenous and historical name of the Zo people. In 1983, after a gap of 30 years, the name Zomi was reviewed in a Convention held at Thantlang, where 424 out of 434 delegates from different areas of Chin State voted in favour of the 1953 resolution, i.e., Zomi nomenclature. Against this referendum, the CNA/F continues to play petty politics using
the term Chin merely for their own convenience while at the same time sowing the seeds of misunderstanding and localised conflicts within the Zo people (Zosuan/Zofate) in Myanmar, relegating the use of the Zomi identity to the Zo people inhabiting the Northern Chin State.
ON THE MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY IN MYANMAR
(Readers are advised to read the following for a deeper understanding of the current conflict engineered by CNA/F: The Zomi Movement in Burma (Myanmar): A Proclamation of the Truth issued by the ZRA-EC on 20th May 2022 – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/mAcTmQ4gbpyLtJb2/?mibextid=xfxF2i)
1. Since its inception, the Zomi Re-Unification Organization/Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRO/ZRA) adopted and pursued the Zomi Re-unification Policy based on the Resolution of the Chin-Lushai Conference, 1892 held at Fort William and the restoration of fullest federal democracy in Myanmar based on the principles of the Panglong Agreement, 1947 in which U Thawng Za Khup from Tedim is one of the signatories. Our Reunification Policy is in sync with the former Chin Re-unification Movement led by Tun Kho Pum Baite and the Greater Mizoram Movement under the leadership of Pu Lal Denga.
Given the emerging circumstances, the ZRA-EC was formed in 2013 to pursue its stated objectives in the context of Myanmar. The ZRA-EC conducted extensive political mobilisation and awareness campaigns, and organised civil volunteers (Zomi National Volunteers, or ZNV) who actively participated in the pro-democracy movement under the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and National Unity Government (NUG). It also formed the Zomi Political Co-ordination Committee,
Myanmar (ZPCCM) as a platform to pursue Myanmar-specific political objectives. The ZPCCM formulated the Zogam Charter and submitted a political demand for the creation of Zomi State under a federal democracy in Myanmar comprising of Northern Chin State – Tonjang Township, Chikha Township and Tedim Township – and its adjoining contiguous Zomi-dominated areas from Zokhawthar in the West to Chindwin River in the East.
Today, the ZPCCM and the Zomi Innkuan USA (ZIUSA) are instrumental in advocating the plights of the Zomi community in particular and lobby for the restoration of federal democracy in Myanmar at various national and international platforms, in general.
2. As the pro-democratic movements (Myanmar’s Spring Revolution of 2021) gradually transformed into armed conflicts, the ZRA-EC conducted wide-ranging consultations and surveys to decide our future courses of action and made the following observations:
i) Not a single democratic country, including India, openly supported the pro-democratic movement;
ii) The majority Bamars/Burmans in mainland Myanmar denounced the movement;
iii) Myanmar’s major ethnic groups like Karen, Kachin, Wa, Rakhine, etc. chose to fortify their respective areas;
iv) And most importantly, the Military Junta is employing divide and rule policy to create communal conflicts within the various ethnic communities to distract the CDM and weaken the pro-democracy movement.
With these findings, the ZRA-EC adopted a two-pronged strategy, i.e., a peaceful non-violence protest under CDM and arming ourselves to defend the Zomi area without antagonising others. Our survey findings and speculations come true with the rise of various community-based armed groups, People’s Defence Force (PDF) in Chin State that are nurtured, trained and equipped by CNA/F. The CNA/F eventually became stooges of the State Administration Council (SAC)/Myanmar military junta in implementing their divisive policy leading to the desired communal conflict in Chin State today.
The Zomi, while being pioneer leaders in the pro-democracy movement in Myanmar have consistently tried to maintain the struggle in various forms while at the same time ensure the safety of Zo people in Zomi areas, until the carnage engineered by the CNA/F unfolded.
BASELESS ALLEGATIONS AND HIDDEN AGENDA OF THE CNA/F
1. The allegation continuously trumpeted by the CNA/F and their propagandists is that the ZRA-EC is an alliance partner of the SAC/Myanmar Army. This is totally baseless, unfounded, and is merely a propaganda tool used by CNA/F to justify their military offensive against the Zomi ethnic group in Northern Chin State. For the ZRA-EC to be an alliance partner with SAC is morally and technically impossible for us. Regrettably, the CNA/F has been incessantly disseminating fraudulent documents and information, which we have denied and clarified time and again. Our response to their military campaign in Northern Chin State is self-evidence as it proved that the ZRA-EC and SAC is not an alliance partner. When we do not fight alongside the SAC, why continue to accuse us of being an alliance partner?
2. If the ZRA-EC is not the primary target of the CNA/F-engineered brutalities, why attack us at all? In his interview with Zofa Journal (an active propagandist of CNA/F) on 26th May 2024, the CNA/F Spokesperson claimed that they do not attack ZRA-EC! On the contrary, they first attacked the ZRA-EC’s Mt. Carmel Camp near Muallum Village on 1st May, 2024; not a single SAC or Myanmar Army (MA) have ever set foot at this Camp. As they suffered maximum casualties (over 78 deaths and not less than 60 wounded) in the failed ground assault, they changed the warfare and started bombing our Camp using sophisticated drone bombs. The information retrieved from one of the drones that were shot down revealed undeniable facts about their malicious intentions. Their offensive plan/map that was leaked also confirmed that ZRA-EC Camps and all Zomi settlements in Northern Chin State as their primary target.
3. The ZRA-EC is neither a beneficiary nor promoter of drug trade in Chin State. Instead, the CNA/F is partly responsible for the westward shift of the Golden Triangle in recent times. One of the reasons for their recent military campaign in Northern Chin State is their intention to monopolise the drug business
along the Zokhawthar to Mandalay route. It is a well-known fact that the major drug and illegal arms trade along this route is controlled by CNA/F and often share some percentage with the Myanmar Army and some VBIGs from Manipur at one point in time. They supply poppy seeds to Manipur to expand their narco-business. The growing numbers of arms and drugs seized by Mizoram Armed Police in recent times testify to the scale of such business. This immoral and illegal trade is slowly and surely poisoning our Zo society today.
4. The ZRO/ZRA and ZRA-EC have shared policies on the Re-unification of the Zomi with different strategies and approaches in our respective areas of operation. The artificial boundary drawn by the then-colonial master across our motherland (Zogam/Zoland) has nothing to do with our national identity, our culture and historical facts. Our existence as one of the borderland communities in the world speaks volumes about how we navigate our present and future political destiny.
5. As we have adopted a two-pronged strategy in the ongoing pro-democracy movement, we believe that mere indiscriminate firings at the SAC or Myanmar Army is not the singular strategy to restore democracy in Myanmar. We have meticulously planned our moves, balancing the cost and effects of the military offensive. Our love and concern for the welfare of our people and our land precedes any military action against any forces, including the CNA/F invaders. Democracy being the government of the people, by the people and for the people, our priority is always with the voices of the people. As a revolutionary organisation, we are ever ready to sacrifice our lives for the people and our land; but when our actions only lead to human tragedy without any sign of progress in our collective struggle for democracy, we end up victimizing ourselves and became the losers. The CNA/F leadership should understand that we decide our destiny, and make our moves at our own pace, and neither the CNA/F nor any forces can dictate terms in this regard.
6. The CNA/F and their propagandists have persistently tried to project the ZRA-EC in bad light. It may be mentioned here that when the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) took steps to bridge the gap between CNA/F and ZRA-EC, we responded positively; however, the CNA/F began their offensive posturing without responding to the CYMA’s peace initiatives! On another occasion, we proposed the exchange of hostages under the initiative of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) General Headquarters; this too was turned down by CNA/F.
CNA/F’S ULTERIOR MOTIVES EXPOSED
The unprovoked military offensive in Zomi areas of Northern Chin State has exposed the ulterior motives of CNA/F.
1. The CNA/F’s hidden agenda is to destroy the human resources and infrastructures of the Zomi in Chin State. They conducted a military offensive in Zomi areas of Northern Chin State even though the CNA/F and SAC/Myanmar military junta camps co-exist without a single shot fired at Hakha/Thantlang, CNF HQ and Darkhai village where CNA/F and Myanmar military camps exist at the firing range. They engineered the attacks on the Zomi towns of Tonjang and Tedim to invite maximum human tragedy from the Myanmar military. This is exactly what is happening today.
2. Since 2021, all conflicts between ZRA-EC and CNA/F have occurred in Zomi areas of Northern Chin State only. This fact proved their implicit intention to invade and seize the Zomi area, exploit our resources and neutralise the Zomi community to control all trade and business routes entering Mizoram State via Zomi areas. It also demonstrated that the ZRA-EC reacted in self-defence whenever they invaded our land.
3. The CNA/F and ZRA-EC are part and parcel of the National Unity Government (NUG), an exiled Government which includes CDM, ethnic armed groups and PDF. The NUG explicitly stated that PDF shall be formed in mainland Myanmar but no PDF shall be formed in areas where there exist ethnic armed groups (including ZRA-EC in Northern Chin State). The CNA/F violated this principle agreement as they formed and sponsored various community and location-based PDFs in Chin State. This created internal misunderstanding and conflict. This is exactly the policy of the Myanmar military regime designed to dilute and neutralise the pro-democracy movement, and unfortunately, the CNA/F happens to be the executor!
4. The dictatorial attitudes and parochial mindset of CNA/F leadership is anti-thesis to the essence of democracy including, fraternity, equality, freedom and rights of individual and community. If they think that brute forces and bloodshed within the Zo people (Zosuan/Zofate) will usher in the fullest democracy in Burma and instill in us democratic principles, they are completely wrong, and their understanding is myopic, to say the least.
5. As the CNA/F is unable to fight alone, they cooked up fabricated stories against ZRA-EC and made unholy alliances with people who are indoctrinated by them. Whereas the geopolitical interests of Indian leadership towards Myanmar is constructive engagement with the existing regime, the CNA/F shamelessly dragged in the RAW to fool the public and their innocent sponsors abroad.
6. More dramatic events are expected to come shortly unless the CNA/F changes its ulterior motives and strategy which are merely carbon copies of the Myanmar military junta/SAC’s policy.
PAINFUL FACTS
We deeply regret the loss of more than 140 CNA/F fighters, with around 60 wounded during their recent military misadventures in ZRA-EC’s operational areas. On our part, five Zogam Martyrs made supreme sacrifices for our motherland and 16 were wounded. Whether it is from the side of the CNA/F or ZRA-EC, all the casualties are our blood brothers who became the unfortunate victims of CNA/F’s unprovoked invasion and wrongful policy. We decided to temporarily restrain ourselves when we realized that most of their victims were innocent Zomi who had been indoctrinated by CNA/F against the Zomi policy, and they were put as bait while attacking us. There is evidence that CNA also drugged their foot soldiers to perform criminal activities. All these
proved beyond doubt that the CNA/F leadership are least bothered about human lives as long as it serves their vested interests.
HUMBLE APPEAL
It is our humble appeal to all sensible and peace-loving communities across the world that;
1. The CNA/F and their cohorts must stop killing and torturing innocent Zomi, burning and looting properties and extortion/forced taxation in Zomi areas. Such acts of terrorism shall not be tolerated and will be dealt with effectively unless they stop their criminal activities. Mutual respect is the key to our struggle. Our strategy and approaches may be different, yet our collective mission is one.
2. The sympathisers of the pro-democracy movement worldwide should understand the internal dynamics and geopolitical realities of the movement before making any decisions for assistance and support.
3. We also appeal to the media community (both print and electronic), YouTubers and various online channels to ensure fact-checking of information before lifting or publishing any development regarding the
conflict. We are always ready to cooperate with any news channel and media fraternity in this regard.
4. We fervently appeal to all Zo people (Zofate/Zosuan) to promote peace and understanding within the Zosuan/Zofa community. As blood brothers and believers in Christ, we cannot afford to be the tools of setan or any adversaries whose singular strategy is to destroy us.
5. We also appeal to all Zomi individuals who are on the other side of the fence to rethink, in the interest of our people, before it is too late.
Finally, we thank the Almighty God, the God of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, and the God of the Zomi for He is our Strength, Shield, Hope and Guide. We request the Zomi community worldwide to continue to uphold in prayer, praying fervently for peace, the restoration of fullest democracy in Burma and the creation of the Zomi State within the God-given motherland, Zoland/Zogam.
We remain Strong and Courageous. We are neither Frightened nor Dismayed, for the Lord our God is with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9). Long Live Zomi Unity We Shall Fight, We Shall Rise, We Shall Win!
Truth and Freedom
(Col. MASON)
Commander-in-Chief
ZRA-EC
Email:zraecinfo@gmail.com
Mobile: +959890249644