The first meeting of the Chin National Front (CNF) Supreme Council was held in Washington DC, USA, February 22 to 24 February.
Pu Za Hlei Thang, CNF Chairman and a member of the Supreme Council, Pu Lian Uk, Vice Chairman-I, Salai Kipp Kho Lian, Vice Chairman-II, Pu Tang Nang Lian Thang, Vice Chairman-III, attended the meeting along with eight other council members.
The discussion included the opening of the CNF liaison office in Teddim Town, in Chin state, following an agreement signed between the CNF and the government of Chin State last month. This is being opposed by some Teddim people and Zomi Innkuan.
The council announced in a statement on 23 February that the opposition of local people to opening the CNF liaison office in Teddim will be mediated by the CNF.
The meeting is the result of talks between CNF leaders and Zomi Innkuan representatives on 16 January in Indianapolis, USA.
“The supreme council members meeting discussed the second phase of talks between the CNF and the government of the Union of Burma. Then, we discussed the next phase of the transition process following a cease fire with the centre,” a regional CNF member from the USA said.
The Chin State Government level peace delegation and the CNF agreed on January 6 to closely cooperate to eradicate illegal poppy cultivation, the drug trade and drug smuggling in northern Chin State.
Local researchers told Khonumthung that illegal poppy cultivation has gone up in Ton Zang, Cikha Sub-Township of Teddim Township and Teddim Township, northern Chin state.
The CNF was formed in 1988 to fight for rights of self- determination for Chin people and for a federal system of democracy in Burma.