Meetings to resolve conflict between two Chin revolutionary groups due to be held in Delhi City, India during August have been delayed and will be rescheduled.
The August meeting in Delhi between the Chinland Council (CC) and the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) was due to be mediated by the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI). Unfortunately, according to Salai Paul, the secretary of the Chinland Council, the meeting has had to be postponed.
Salai Paul said: “As the mediating groups continue their efforts to facilitate a meeting between both sides, we remain committed to working towards arranging this meeting and will continue our efforts. Both sides have agreed to that, but due to various circumstances, the meeting has been postponed. We are working to re-arrange the meeting so that both sides can meet.”
Apparently the meeting was postponed due to security concerns.
Some reports from news outlets and social media posts suggested that CMI would be mediating talks between the Chinland Council and the Chin Brotherhood, but the Chin Brotherhood is a military organisation, so the ICNCC, a political organisation that represents the Chin Brotherhood, was attending the talks as the Brotherhood’s representative.
Salai Paul believes that discussions between the different Chin factions are a positive step that will help resolve problems and build mutual trust.
He said: “During this revolutionary period, it is appropriate for the leading Chin resistance groups to meet and negotiate in search of the best solutions. We may still have sectors where immediate collaboration isn't possible, but through continuous meetings and negotiations, we can gradually build trust and find sectors for joint action. This ongoing dialogue is a positive step forward.”
The CMI has not yet announced a date when the postponed talks will be held.
CMI is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to resolving conflicts through negotiations and mediation, based in Helsinki, Finland.
According to the results of a survey carried out by the The Chin Civic Movement (CCM), released on 21 August 2024, the Chin people would like to see the conflict between different Chin groups resolved as soon as possible. The survey respondents also said that the conflict between the Chin groups had arisen due to a lack of mutual recognition, consultation and understanding between the groups.
The Chin National Front (CNF) and its armed wing, the Chin National Army (CNA) are the oldest Chin revolutionary groups. They were founded in 1988 and were one of the signatories of the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the Myanmar Army.
After the 2021 military coup, the CNA joined forces with a new armed group called the Chinland Defence Force (CDF).
The INCC is a political organisation that was formed after the Myanmar coup, on 13 April 2021, by the CNF, Chin parliamentary representatives, staff participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), and civilian representatives. The INCC says that it is: “A political organisation that represents the interests of Chin nationals and was formed in accordance with the federal democracy charter.” It is recognised by the National Unity Government (NUG).
In April 2023, the CNF withdrew from the ICNCC. In September 2023 it convened a conference where the Chin Basic Law was drafted and enacted.
At the first Chinland Conference, held at Victoria Base in December 2023, 325 Chin representatives from Chin State, Myanmar and the broader Chin diaspora, including the CNA/CNF, ratified a new Chinland Constitution, set up the Chinland Council and gave it a mandate to form a Chin government, including a legislature, executive branch, and judiciary, within 60 days.
But, some Chin resistance groups disagreed with the formation of the Chinland Council and six Chin resistance groups broke away and formed the Chin Brotherhood, on 30 December 2023. Instead of allying itself with the Chinland Council, the Chin Brotherhood aligned itself with the INCC.
Currently there is conflict between these two Chin factions. On one side there is the Chinland Council supported by the CNA/CNF and on the other is the INCC which is supported by the Chin Brotherhood and effectively functions as the Brotherhood’s political wing.
The factions have previously fought each other. Notably, fighters from the Chinland Council and the Government of Chin State fought agains the Chinland Brotherhood, supported by the AA, in Matupi Township, Chin State, at the end of June and beginning of July 2024. Eventually the Chinland Council coalition stood down and the Chinland Brotherhood, assisted by the AA, took control of Matupi Township.
Also, in Lia Lai Pi Town, in Lia Lai Pi Township, Chin State, on 13 July 2024 the two factions fought again, with the Maraland Territorial Council (MDF) and Mara Chinland Defence Force (Mara CDF) from the Chin Brotherhood representing the INCC, against the CNA representing the Chinland Council.
Chin resistance groups allied to the Chinland Council include: the CNA, Matupi Chin Defence Force (CDF), Lautu CDF, Zotung CDF, Paletwa CDF, Hualngoram CDF, Tonzang CDF, Hakha CDF, Thantlang CDF, KKG CDF, Zophei CDF, SIYIN CDF/Civil Disobedience Movement (CDF/CDM), Tedim People’s Defence Association (PDA), Mara CDF, Zanniatram CDF, and the Mindat Council.
Chin resistance groups allied to the Chin Brotherhood and the ICNCC include: the Chin National Organization (CNO), the Zomi Federal Union (ZFU), the Mindat CDF, Kanpetlet CDF, Matupi CDF Battalion (1), and the Maraland Territorial Council (MTC/MDF).
