Written by Columnist Marmaga who is a political and warfare analyst; He has been writing political articles for 10 years
July 16, 2024
“Criticism is more severe when fighting a war than doing politics,” said General Twan Mrat Naing in an interview with VOA
The Arakan Army, which is spread across Kachin, North Shan, Karen, Karenni, Burma, and Chin is fighting with alliances and helping its allies in the battle, is successful ever in the history of the Burmese revolution and is thought to be brilliant is no doubt.
As I wrote in the opening of the article in the field of the present revolution, the Arakan Army, which speaks less and proves it with work, is more critical when fighting a war, there are blows from all sides of warfare, politics, and economics.
With the coming of territorial control, along with racial and religious incitement, the domestic economy is being hit by waves, and the Arakan Army is walking on the practical road of “The Way of Rakkhita” fighting and building” at the same time.
I want to highlight the importance of the Chin and Arakan affair. From the western zone of Myanmar, you will see that there is a complicated future for the Chin and Arakan, which are labeled as the poorest states.
It would be more correct if they were brothers in the revolution than neighbors. I mean CNF/CNA and ULA/AA. In the field of revolution, if Chin is an elder brother then Rakhine is a younger brother. The Chin National Front (CNF) Chin National Army (CNA) was formed in March 1988 and the current revolutionary period has been 36 years. AA was formed in April 2009 and the current revolutionary period has been 15 years.
On November 19, 2014, 23 cadets were killed, including 8 from the AA and 2 from the CNF, when the Military Council fired artillery weapons into the cadet military academy in Laiza, the KIO headquarters on the China-Myanmar border. This is the relationship between the CNF and the AA in the revolutionary area and the huge losses.
Pressure on AA with economics route
The border route for goods flowing from India to Palatwa and Rakhine has been closed from 24 June by the Central Young Lai Association (CYLA), a Chin group based in Mizoram state, on the pretext that the AA is cooperating with the Chin brotherhood group in the battle to take over Matupi town in southern Chin State. The route is closed till now. This is the second time. On May 25, the border was closed for security reasons, and after discussions with ULA leaders, it was reopened on June 12.
The president of CYLA said, “The first reason for this closure is because of the fighting. AA and his Chin brotherhood are trying to take over the Matupi town. I tried to contact AA and its Chin brotherhood to stop this fight, but I didn’t get any response,” he told The Irrawaddy News Center on July 5.
The Langtalai CYLA group, which has now closed the border road, is a civil society organization of the Chin tribe officially registered with the India government and authorized by the Mizoram state government. This group is located in Hakha, Thantlang, Northern Chin State. The Chin community said that they are the Lai clans from Thantlang and they are the supporters of the CNF/CNA.
Due to all the water and land routes having been cut off between Arakan and the rest of the country by the military council, the Langtalai region of Mizoram is important for the flow of basic goods to the northern region of Arakan via Palatwa. However, due to the road blockade, and the scarcity of basic food, engine oil, and life-saving medicines in Arakan, the price of commodities has gone rocket high.
Regarding this issue, Khaing Thukha, AA’s spokesperson, said in an interview with the Irrawaddy that the CYLA (Lai Youth) group is an Indian group interference in the internal affairs of Myanmar should not be done at all.
In addition, the Lai youth group’s closure of the flow of goods, rather than putting pressure on AA, may also affect India’s strategic Kalatan multi-purpose transportation project, which is criticized by Chin ethnic groups.
The Kalatan project, which will become the sea outlet trade project of India’s landlocked Mizoram state, connectivity road goes through Palatwa, Chin state, and Kyauktaw, Arakan. AA has controlled the rest of the road, except for Sittwe, which passes through the city of Ponnagyun.
Salai Hakha-son wrote in The Zalen Media based in Chin state published on 3 July, “Why does AA help the Chin brotherhood without signing a political agreement?”, “The CNF/CNA leaders have blocked the road by using a youth group of India, Palatwa-India Road rout is the main lifeline of Rakhine and Southern Chin State, ” he wrote.
In addition, it is written directly that CNF/CNA is a group that opposes ULA/AA because it is purposely harming the Chin people and Rakhine people of Southern Chin State.
However, the Arakan leaders have a firm policy of having fewer enemies and more friends, and EAOs, Columnist Salai Hakhason also said that the PDF has established a good relationship and apart from the CNF/CNA, there are no ethnic armed groups that oppose the ULA/AA.
AA is a good friend while AA is trying to establish a country, CNF/CNA is disrupting politically, warfare, and economically to the AA. Here it is necessary to know a little about the revolutionary forces of Chin.
How are the Chin groups divided by the revolution?
It is still difficult to unite because of the different policies of the current Chin Revolutionary Forces. CNCC and the Chinland Council (CC) as a large group are divided. It can be understood that they are ruling the land as a revolutionary government.
The Chin State Council (Chin Layan Council) was formed under the leadership of the Chin National Front (CNF) and was opposed by the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) because they had the most participation. Local Revolutionary Forces (CDFs) working with them are also present on both sides.
There are also groups of CDFs called Chin Brotherhood (CB). Among these groups are the Zome Federal Union (ZFU); Chin National Organization (CNO); Council of Chins (Royal Army); Mara Territorial Administrative Council (MTC); Chin Defense Force (Kan Pa Lat), The Chinland Defense Force (Brigade-1) has joined the alliance with the AA and is engaged in battle fighting.
The CNF blames the AA for the Matupi battle
Chin Brotherhood (CB) forces launched an operation to capture a district-level Matupi town in Southern Chin State, The operation was started on 9 June and won the battle on 29 June. After a 20-day operation, Khmara 140 and Khamara 304 were finally defeated in the fight.
In this battle, the Arakha Army (AA) and Yao (YDF) jointly won. The problem is that when the city capture battle was about to end, there was an exchange of fire between Chin Brotherhood and Chin National Council (CNF) forces, which ended with casualties from both sides.
However, in the battle to take over Matupi, the CNF, and the Chin joint forces attacked the Chin Brotherhood and allies with AA from behind, the Chin Brotherhood announced it on June 18.
The Chin people and the revolutionary forces were also saddened by this kind of firing between the Chin armed forces. In this battle, the main CNF’s attitude towards AA was clearly shown.
In an interview with the local Khonumthung news agency on June 19, CNF spokesperson Salai Thetni said that he did not like AA’s participation in the main battle to take over the city.
“People should know who the culprit is. It will need to be verified. Mainly, the Chin Brotherhood invited AA. That’s the first mistake. Our local defense forces, including the CNA, can take control of Chin State. As for AA, there are still many military council camps in Rakhine that have not been yet captured. Therefore, after withdrawing the soldiers of AA from Chin, go and make Rakhine free of military dogs,” Salai Thetni said.
In the June 20th interview with Chin Brotherhood spokesperson Salai Yoman by Khonum Thoon News Agency.
“It is sad to see that the CNF leaders are self-absorbed in spreading hatred among the people by asking questions about why AA was called in Chin,” he said.
Salai Yoman also said, “We started the revolution with homemade barrel guns and when we asked the KIA and other EAOs for help with military training and arms supply, the CNF/CNA could not be stopped. The NUG itself was unable to assist due to the MOU with the CNF, so the neighboring ally AA also provided military training along with arms and ammunition. We were able to stand in warfare and politics,” he explained.
In addition, some Chin residents are not satisfied with the actions of the CNF/CNA during the conflict. Sulaiman Thong, a fellow Chin, said, “AA played a major role in the turning point of the revolution on a national scale. From the AA side, there were no targeted attacks on CDFs. CNA and CDF. Contrary, CDF, CNA blatantly attacked the backs of CB and AA during the Mutupi town capturing operation,” he wrote on his social media.
Who will win in the domestic chicken competition?
During this period, they are preparing and attacking the entire country with rapid offensives to root out the military dictatorship. In the land of Chin, Rikha Dar, Lai Lan P, Rezoa, and Tung Zang towns were occupied by the CNA while the Chin Brotherhood forces occupied Kyindwe and Matupi towns. AA has occupied Palatwa in Chin state.
Therefore, the Chin community is criticizing that there should be no plans to interfere with AA’s assistance in the city-to-city-occupation struggle of the entire Chin state based on differences of opinion. The common enemy of all the Chin and Arakan nations is the military council (Myanmar Tatmadaw), and if they continue to fight each other like this, they are considering that the military council will like it.
Political analysts said that the people of Chin and Arakan, which are geographically connected, should have strong alliances and economic and social exchanges so that both sides can benefit. During this nationwide operation, the routes that are difficult to trade to the Arakan region, either the young Indian Lai or CNF blocking the trading road is only a gain for the military council and a loss for the people. “In the Chin revolution, some of the CDFs of the Chin Brotherhood were not subordinate to the CNF, but they were not enemies. Besides, AA is still not a friend of the CNF, but certainly not an enemy. “The reason is that AA leaders have adopted a policy of making friends with less fighting,” said a political analyst from Arakan.
In addition, the land of Arakan is located on a world communication route that has access to the sea, so this blockade will be temporary. Lay Mro, Kaladan Rivers have exits from Chin state to Arakan and the Bay of Bengal. In addition, there are more than 100,000 Chin people in Arakan State. Chin people in Arakan are also affected by this roadblock, and Chin of Palewa are also affected.
Arakan is on the sea necessary for the development of the Chin State. Aviation is the way to go abroad via Arakan land. We are considering the need to work together peacefully and build the country as good neighbors and brothers.
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