Zomi Revolutionary Army

Last updated

Zomi Revolutionary Army
LeadersThanglianpau Guite
Dates of operation1997 (1997)–present
Headquarters Churachandpur, Manipur, India
Ideology Zomi Nationalism
AlliesNon-state allies:
OpponentsNon-state opponents:
Battles and wars Internal conflict in Myanmar Insurgency in Northeast India

The Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) is an armed Zomi nationalist militant group formed in 1997, following an increase in ethnic tensions between the Kuki people (i.e. the Thadou) and the Paites tribe in Churachandpur district of Manipur, India. Its parent organisation, the Zomi Re-unification Organisation, was founded in April 1993. [3]

Contents

Background

The Zo identity for the Kuki-Chin language speaking people spread across Northeast India and Myanmar's Chin State began to take shape soon after World War II. The people of the then Lushai Hills district in India (present-day Mizoram) rallied behind a "Mizo" ("Zo people") identity in 1946. [4] In 1953, the Baptist Associations of Tedim, Falam and Hakha in Myanmar's Chin State adopted Zomi ("Zo people") as their "national" name (subsuming the various tribal identities). [5] In India's Manipur state, T. Gougin formed a "United Zomi Organisation" in 1961 and "Zomi National Congress" in 1972. [6] The final step in these Zomi nationalist movements was taken in April 1993, when a Zomi Re-unification Organisation (ZRO) was formed at Phapian in Kachin State of Myanmar, under the leadership of Tedim Chins and Paites. It had the professed objective of unifying all the Kuki-Zo people divided across national borders (India, Myanmar and Bangladesh) under a united "Zomi" identity. [7]

With these antecedents, seven Kuki-Zo tribes of Churachandpur district in Manipur, that had previously declined to accept a Kuki identity, agreed to come under the banner of Zomi Re-unification Organsiation in 1995. The seven tribes were Hmar, Zou, Vaiphei, Gangte, Simte, Sukte (Tedim Chins) and Paite, with the Paites leading the collection. [8] [9] Its formation day is said to be observed on 20 February every year as Zomi Nam Ni. [8] [lower-alpha 1] By 1997, the organisation also formed an underground military wing called Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA, also referred to as "Zomi Re-unification Army") [12] ostensibly to defend the tribes under its umbrella from rival tribes, mainly the Thadou Kukis. [8]

History

At the time of the formation of ZRA, the tensions between the Kukis (mainly Thadou-Kukis) and the tribes belonging to the Zomi grouping were on the rise. The Kuki–Naga conflict caused many Thadou-Kukis to migrate to the Churachandpur district, which was previously dominated by Paites, and also caused the armed group Kuki National Front (KNF) to increase its demands for contributions. ZRO and ZRA objected to the demands from the "Zomi" community, and allegedly berated KNF for picking a conflict with the Naga militant group NSCN-IM. The KNF in turn suspected ZRA of teaming up with NSCN-IM. [10] [12] [13] A year-long conflict between the Kukis and Zomis erupted in June 1997, in which the ZRA is said to have taken a beating for having been inadequately armed. According to security specialist E. N. Rammohan, the Paites fled to Myanmar, where they teamed up with NSCN-IM to regroup and arm themselves. [12] [13] As a result of the conflict, the Gangte and Hmar tribes left the Zomi umbrella, [14] and ZRA is said to have supported itself through extortion and occasional kidnapping in the Churachandpur district. [3] [15]

Following the seminal clashes, both KNF and ZRA faced splits and defections, and saw the formation of new groups rivalling themselves. In 1997, Zou tribes formed Zou Defence Volunteers (ZDV) in Chandel district. In 2005, the Vaipheis defected and formed their own armed group called United Socialist Revolutionary Army (USRA) and the Hmars formed Hmar National Army (HNA). A rival Paite group called Zomi Revolutionary Front (ZRF) was also formed. These rival groups eventually joined the fold of a Kuki-led umbrella group Kuki National Organisation (KNO). [16] The Paite-led groups likewise formed an umbrella group called United People's Front (UPF). All the groups resorted to extortion, drug trade, kidnapping for ransom, forced recruitment of young children as cadres, denial of voting rights to unarmed sections of the community etc. [17]

In August 2005, both KNO and UPF signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the central security forces. In 2008, this was revised to tripartite agreements jointly with the Union Home Minsitry and the Government of Manipur. The militant groups agreed to abjure the path of violence, and refrain from unlawful activities such as killing, kidnapping, extortions, intimidations, carrying of arms in public, and the imposition of 'taxes' and 'fines'. The government agreed not to launch offensive operations against the armed groups. [18] The armed groups provided lists of their cadres to the security forces, and agreed to stay in designated camps. Identity cards were issued to the cadres, and arms were deposited under a double locking system. [19]

In 2010, the Union home minister P. Chidambaram visited the ZRA camp in Muvanlai and spent 45 minutes. He promised to initiate talks on the Zomi demand for an autonomous hill state within Manipur. The demand has since evolved into an autonomous territorial council similar to the Bodoland Territorial Council. [20] [21] [22]

Myanmar

Even though ZRO was originally founded in the Kachin State of Myanmar, it does not appear that it had much following in Myanmar. A US State Department cable from c. 2010 states that ZRA had 200 fighers from mostly Paites. Five fighters from Chin National Army (CNA) are said to have joined it after CNA became defunct. [15] By around 2020, reports started appearing referring to an "Eastern Command" of ZRA in Myanmar's Chin State, and also that it was attacking Chinland Defence Force, having allied with the Burmese military junta. [23] [24] [25] In January 2022, ZRA is said to have clashed with Chin National Front and China National Army (CNF/CNA) resistance forces, and lost four fighters. [25] People's Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA) is also said to be using similar strategies in fighting the Myanmarese resistance forces. [26] Even though ZRA issued a public statement in support of the resistance forces, the attacks continued. [27]

Areas of operation

The ZRA mainly conducts operations in the Paite, Simte, Vaiphei, Zou, Mizo, Chin, Gangte, Thadou and other tribes under the Zo umbrella majority areas of the Churachandpur district in Manipur and other districts in Manipur, particularly the Singngat subdivision near Myanmar (Burma). Their main operation areas includes bordering regions of Manipur and Mizoram. [3] It is also believed to operate in Chin State, Myanmar (Burma).[ citation needed ]

Funding

The ZRA allegedly funds itself through the collection of "protection fees" from locals who live in their areas of operations. In exchange for this fee, the ZRA claims they protect locals from being shot, kidnapped, or robbed by rival groups. [3] In June 2004, according to local media reports, the ZRA accused the Mizo National Front (MNF) administration in Mizoram of only partially paying ZRA cadres for campaigning on behalf of MNF candidates in Champhai. A prominent opposition leader in Mizoram, Lal Thanhawla, claimed that on 12 June 2004, the MNF owed the ZRA payment for "services rendered", and that, because the MNF had failed to pay, the ZRA had begun collecting fees from residents of Mizoram. [3] [28]

Alliances with other groups

The ZRA's maintains close alliances with the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM). The group also has a memorandum of understanding with the Kuki Liberation Organization (KLO) that promises "full cooperation in all spheres, with the objective of strengthening the blood ties among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo/Zomi peoples". [3] The ZRA was once in conflict with the Hmar People's Convention-Democracy (HPC-D), but the two groups reached an agreement to "work closely in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation for the welfare of the people and for achieving their shared objectives". [28]

In 2019, ZRO was reported to be part of United People's Front, an umbrella group of six or seven ethnic organisations with armed wings which were formed in the 1990s. [29]

Peace negotiations

On 9 August 2005, the ZRA released a statement, saying that they had reached a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government, which was to last for six months starting from 1 August. The ZRA also said that they had "viewed the steps taken by the Indian government in this regard as a positive approach towards the better understanding of our unique history, and the realisation of the need for a permanent solution to the long standing aspirations of the Zomi people". In spite of this agreement, the Indian security forces allegedly conducted operations against ZRA during the ceasefire. [3]

Myanmar Civil war

Raiding on Chin resistance camps

In late August and early September 2023, the Chinland Defense Force claimed that two of their soilders were killed after the ZRA attacked bases in Tonzang Township. During the first raid, the CDF was greatly outnumbered, and military equipment was seized.

“ Most of the CDF fighters were able to escape with their own guns. But we weren’t able to take the more important drones, heavy guns, and artillery shells,” CDF general secretary Thang Suan Mung told the Burmese News site 𝘔𝘺𝘢𝘯𝘮𝘢𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘸.

Another camp was raided the following week, killing one CDF fighter, and confiscating one rifle.

The ZRA had also raided camps of the Chin resistance force, a CDF ally, at least three times. [30]

Notable incidents

Notes

  1. ↑ Zomi Nam Ni is translated as "Zomi national day". Its celebration started in the Churachandpur town around 1994–1995. [10] However, it was already being celebrated in Chin State to mark the day when Chins switched to a democratic system of administration on 20 February 1948, dispensing with traditional chieftancies. Starting out as "Chin National Day", the event is said to have been renamed as "Zomi National Day" in 1950. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Northeast India</span> Internal security issues of India

The Insurgency in Northeast India involves multiple separatist militant groups operating in some of India's northeastern states, which are connected to the rest of India by the Siliguri Corridor, a strip of land as narrow as 14.29 miles (23.00 km) wide.

The Paite people are an ethnic group in Northeast India, mainly living in Manipur and Mizoram. The Paites are recognized as a scheduled tribe in these two states. They are part of the Kuki-Zo people, but prefer to use the Zomi identity. "Guite" is a major clan of the Paite people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuki people</span> Ethnic group in India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar

The Kuki people are an ethnic group in the Northeastern Indian states of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, as well as the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Kukis form one of the largest hill tribe communities in Northeast India, along with the adjoining regions of Bangladesh and Myanmar. In Northeast India, they are present in all states except Arunachal Pradesh. The Chin people of Myanmar and the Mizo people of Mizoram are kindred tribes of the Kukis. Collectively, they are termed the Zo people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zou people</span> Ethnic group living in Myanmar and Northeast India

The Zou people Is are an ethnic group, that is an indigenous community living along the frontier of India and Burma, they are a sub-group of the Kuki people/Zo people. In India, they live with and are similar in language and habits to the Thadou people and Paite and the Simte peoples. In Burma, the Zou are counted among the Chin people. They are a hill people, "Zou" may plainly means "Hills" denoting the Zous are "people of the hills" or "of the hills", and "Zou" has also a different meaning in Zou language that is "complete" or another word for it is "finish". But, the Zou people believed that they incepted the name 'Zou' from their forefather 'Zou' or 'Zo', believed to be the progenitor of the broad Chin-Kuki-Mizo people.

Moreh is a border town located on the India–Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district of the Indian state of Manipur. As a rapidly developing international trade point with the integrated customs and international immigration checkpoint, Moreh plays an important role in India's Look East Policy, trade and commerce under ASEAN–India Free Trade Area, India-Myanmar relationship, India–Myanmar–Thailand road connectivity, and Trans-Asian Railway connectivity.

The Vaiphei people are an ethnic group who live in the North-East Indian state of Manipur and in the Chin State of Myanmar. They share cultural similarities with other tribes in the region like Paite, Thadou, Simte, Hmar,Zou people, Gangte and Kom.

Zo is a Northern Kuki-Chin-Mizo language originating in western Burma and spoken also in Mizoram and Manipur in northeastern India.

Thadou or Thado Chin is a Sino-Tibetan language of the Northern Kuki-Chin sub-branch. It is spoken by the Thadou people in Northeast India. The speakers of this language use Meitei language as their second language (L2) according to the Ethnologue.

Guite is the progenitor clan of Zomi people, also called Chin in Myanmar, Mizo, or Paite, or even Kuki in India. According to Zam, Nigui Guite is the elder brother of the ancestral fathers of the Thadou people, namely Thangpi, Sattawng, and Neirawng. This genealogy was recently inscribed on the tribal memorial stone at Bungmual, Lamka in the presence of each family-head of the three major clans, Doungel, Kipgen, and Haokip, on August 7, 2011. Some historians, like Shakespeare, assumed Lamlei was the Nigui Guite himself but the Guites themselves recounted Tuahciang, the father of Lamlei, as the son of Nigui Guite instead, in their social-religious rites. Regarding Guite as the born son of Songthu and his sister, Nemnep, it was the practice of ancient royalty to issue royal heir and also to keep their bloodline pure instead. Depending on local pronunciation, the clan was also called by different names such as Nguite or Vuite, Gwite, Nwite, Paihte by the Lushei. In accord with the claim of their solar origin, the Guite clan has been called nampi, meaning noble or major or even dominant people, of the region in local dialect in the past.

The Sukte are one of the clans of Tedim Chins that mainly inhabit the Tedim district in Myanmar, with small numbers in India, in Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam states. They are recognized as a Scheduled Tribe in Manipur. From 1995, they have been part of the Zomi Re-unification Organisation in Manipur.

The Tedim people, also called Tedim Chins and Tiddim (Hai-Dim) people, are a Zomi ethinic group, part of the Chin people, primarily inhabiting the Tedim Township in the Chin State of Myanmar. They speak the Tedim language, a northern Kuki-Chin language.

The Kuki-Chin languages are a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family spoken in northeastern India, western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh. Most notable Kuki-Chin-speaking ethnic groups are referred to collectively as the Zo people which includes: the Mizo of Mizoram, the Kuki of Manipur, and the Chin of Chin State, Myanmar.

The Kuki–Paite Conflict, also called Kuki–Zomi Conflict, was an ethnic conflict during 1997–1998 between tribal communities in Churachandpur district in Manipur, India. The cause of the conflict may be regarded as the desire for leadership within the tribes, pitting one group that subscribed to the Kuki label against another group that subscribed to the Zomi label, the latter being led by the Paites. The conflict started in June 1997 and lasted for over year, during which 352 people died, thousands of homes were destroyed and over 13,000 people were displaced. The Government of India sent in the Indian Army to attempt to stop the violence, but peace was restored in September–October 1998 only with the initiative of the Church.

The Zo people is a term to denote the ethnolinguistically related speakers of the Kuki-Chin languages who primarily inhabit northeastern India, western Myanmar, and southeastern Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neihsial</span>

The Neihsial is an ethnic group found in northeastern India and parts of Myanmar. Members of this group are largely concentrated in the Churachandpur, Senapati, Chandel District and Tamenglong district of the Indian state of Manipur. There is also a sizable population in the neighboring Chin State of Myanmar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Manipur</span> Ongoing armed conflict between India and multiple separatist rebel groups

The Insurgency in Manipur is an ongoing armed conflict between India and a number of separatist rebel groups, taking place in the state of Manipur. The Insurgency in Manipur is part of the wider Insurgency in Northeast India; it displays elements of a national liberation war as well as an ethnic conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zomi Congress for Democracy</span> Political party in Myanmar

The Zomi Congress for Democracy, formerly Zomi National Congress, is a political party in Myanmar. Originally formed in Manipur, India, most of its current support comes from Chin State, where the party was originally headquartered. The party is most popular in the Tonzang, Tedim, and Kalay Townships where their headquarters and strongholds are. The party has 15,000 members in Chin State.

Northern Kuki-Chin is a branch of Kuki-Chin languages. It is called Northeastern Kuki-Chin by Peterson (2017) to distinguish it from the Northwestern Kuki-Chin languages. VanBik (2009:31) also calls the branch Northern Chin or Zo.

The Kuki National Organization (KNO) is a political organization established in 1988, with the aim of representing the interests of the Kuki people in northeast India and northwest Myanmar (Burma). The organization operates alongside its principle armed wing, the Kuki National Army (KNA), and has been active in advocating for the rights and aspirations of the Kuki community.

Ukha Loikhai is a village in the Churachandpur district of Manipur, India. It is on the western slopes of the Thangjing Hill and has ongoing claims to the top of the hill itself. In the 2011 census, Ukha Loikhai had a population of 418 people. Ukha was one of the leading villages in the Kuki Rebellion of 1917–1919.

References

  1. ↑ "Chin National Front Signs Deal with Myanmar's Shadow Govt". The Irrawaddy. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Paul Lu: ZRO/ZRA Has Abducted And Killed Our CJDC Members". Burma News International. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Zomi Revolutionary Organisation / Zomi Revolutionary Army". South Asia Terrorism Portal. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015.
  4. ↑ Suan, Rethinking 'tribe' identities (2011), p. 176.
  5. ↑ Go, Zo Chronicles (2008), pp. 185–187.
  6. ↑ Zou, A Historical Study of the 'Zo' Struggle (2010), p. 61.
  7. ↑ Suan, Rethinking 'tribe' identities (2011), p. 180.
  8. 1 2 3 Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict (2007), p. 191.
  9. ↑ Suan, Rethinking 'tribe' identities (2011), pp. 180–181.
  10. 1 2 Zou, Emergent Micro-National Communities (2012), p. 322.
  11. ↑ Zomi National Day: 20th February, Zogam.com, retrieved 6 May 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Rammohan, Blueprint for Counterinsurgency in Manipur (2002).
  13. 1 2 Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict (2007), pp. 191–192.
  14. ↑ Haokip, The Kuki-Paite Conflict (2007), p. 205.
  15. 1 2 Rangoon Mission (US) (4 February 2017), State Department cable – via archive.org
  16. ↑ Zou, Emergent Micro-National Communities (2012), pp. 322–323.
  17. ↑ Zou, Emergent Micro-National Communities (2012), pp. 323–324.
  18. ↑ Zou, Emergent Micro-National Communities (2012), p. 324.
  19. ↑ Zou, Emergent Micro-National Communities (2012), pp. 324–325.
  20. ↑ Incidents and Statements involving ZRO/ ZRA: 2012-2001, South Asia Terrorism Portal, retrieved 6 May 2024.
  21. ↑ Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Manipur armed groups reject 'suspension of operation', demand immediate dialogue with Govt, NDTV News, 8 December 2012.
  22. ↑ Manipur’s Zomi people push for BTC-like council, The Hindu, 25 December 2020.
  23. ↑ Zomi Revolutionary Army attacks anti-regime group in Tedim, Myanmar Now, 27 September 2021.
  24. ↑ Revealed: How Zomi Revolutionary Army - Eastern Command becomes the puppet fighters of Myanmar's military council, The Chindwin, 6 October 2021.
  25. 1 2 Junta Enlists Indian Insurgent Groups to Fight Resistance Forces in Western Myanmar, The Irrawaddy, 2 February 2022.
  26. ↑ Makepeace Sitlhou, Ninglun Hanghal, Insurgents from India add fuel to fire in Myanmar's restive north, Nikkei Asia, 19 June 2022.
  27. ↑ India-based Zomi armed group raids Chin resistance camps in northwestern Myanmar, Myanmar Now, 14 September 2023.
  28. 1 2 "Fact Sheet for Zomi Revolutionary Organisation - Silobreaker". Silobreaker.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  29. ↑ Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, ZRO President’s Letter to Amit Shah Points to Nexus Between Armed Groups, Political Parties, The Wire, 8 April 2019.
  30. ↑ https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/india-based-zomi-armed-group-raids-chin-resistance-camps-in-northwestern-myanmar/
  31. ↑ "Three ZRF Cadres, One Civilian Killed in ZRA attack on truck", Chinland Guradian, 9 June 2005, archived from the original on 29 October 2010
  32. ↑ "Ambush kills nine Indian soldiers". BBC News. 20 September 2005. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014.
  33. ↑ "CZC flays CCpur Church attack". E-pao.net. 29 August 2006. Archived from the original on 15 October 2014.
  34. ↑ "Two militants killed in Manipur". Outlook. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  35. ↑ "India-based Zomi armed group raids Chin resistance camps in northwestern Myanmar", Myanmar Now, 14 September 2023, archived from the original on 8 February 2024

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.