Around 60 per cent of Tedim Town’s residents in Chin State have fled because they are worried that two rival Chin revolutionary forces and the junta will all start fighting each other in the town.

The strange situation arose because of the animosity between two rival alliances of Chin revolutionary forces, the Chinland Council (CC) and the Chin Brotherhood (CB). Rather than fight against the junta together these two groups are fighting the junta separately and also fighting each other.

On 14 January 2025 the Tedim People's Defence Army (Tedim PDA), a member of the Chinland Council, announced that it would be conducting an offensive to take Tedim Town from the junta and invited other Chin revolutionary groups to take part.

Rather than saying it would take part in the offensive, Zoland People’s Defence Force (PDF) responded the same day by announcing it would attack Tedim PDA fighters if they launched an offensive to take Tedim Town. Zoland PDF is a Chin revolutionary force that is part of the Chin Brotherhood.

These statements have caused concern amongst the Tedim Town population and led to approximately  60 per cent of the town’s residents fleeing.

Residents of Skawlam Ward, home to the junta's Infantry Battalion (IB) 269 and those living on the main road started evacuating as soon as the statements were issued. Many others soon followed.

On 16 January a Tedim Town resident said: “As of yesterday, most of the town's residents had already evacuated. Nearly all of those living in Skawlam Ward and around the army base had fled in advance. However, some people remain in the town, particularly in areas farther from the main road.”

Some people have stayed in the town to guard against thieves and looters who target empty houses. But most of them are prepared to leave as soon as fighting begins in the town.

A Zoland PDF spokesperson said: “Around 40 percent of the town's population is remaining in Tedim. They have not left yet due to the rampant thefts. However, they plan to evacuate as soon as clashes begin.”

Tedim Town’s displaced residents have fled to areas near the border with India, Kale (Kalay) Township in Sagaing Region, and rural areas of Chin State.

So far, there has been no fighting in downtown Tedim. All that has happened is that soldiers at the junta’s IB 269 base in Tedim Town have fired warning shots at night.

Chin revolutionary forces that are part of the Chinland Council include: Tedim PDA, the Chin National Front/Chin National Army (CNF/CNA), Matupi Brigade 2 CDF, Lautu CDF, Zotung CDF, Paletwa CDF, Hualngoram CDF, Tonzang CDF, CDF/CDM-SIYIN, MTC/MDF, Hakha CDF, Thantlang CDF, KKG CDF, Zophei CDF, Zanniatram CDF, Senthang Revolution Force and Kanpetlet Council.

Chin revolutionary forces that are part of the Chin Brotherhood include: Zoland PDF, The Chin National Organisation/Chin National Defence Force (CNO/CNDF), Mindat CDF, Kanpetlet CDF and Matupi Brigade 1 CDF. The Chin Brotherhood is also allied to the Arakan Army (AA).