The Chin Brotherhood announced on Monday that its offensive against the military has intensified in Falam Township, located 122 miles (196 km) north of the Chinland capital Hakha, where military outposts and the district and township police stations were seized by its forces on Nov. 12.
“While we maintain broad control over the town, offensive operations continue against the remaining Light Infantry Battalion 268,” said Salai Thang Chun Phay, the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) Mindat commander-in-chief, at a press conference on Dec. 30.
Southern Chinland townships Matupi, Mindat, Kanpetlet, and Kyindwe, along with 30 military outposts, have come under Chin Brotherhood control since it was established as an anti-regime resistance group one year ago. It has made rapid gains against the military since April.
“We completed the [acquisition] of Kyindwe on April 29. Concurrent operations included the Tedim offensive launched on May 27, followed by the Matupi campaign from June 9 to 19. The Mindat offensive began on Nov. 9, leading to full control by Dec. 21. The military withdrew from Kanpetlet without engagement, enabling a peaceful transition of control on Dec. 22,” added Salai Thang Chun Phay.
The Chin Brotherhood was founded by three resistance groups—the Chin National Organization (CNO), the Zomi Federation Union (ZFU), and the Chin National Council-Mindat—in December 2023. It has expanded to include six armed organizations.
“We are conducting joint military operations with resistance groups in Sagaing, Magway [regions],” said a member of the Chin Brotherhood secretariat on the condition of anonymity. “We’re also collaborating with other allied resistance forces across the country”
At a press conference on Dec. 23, the Chin Brotherhood spokesperson Salai Yaw Mang claimed that resistance forces had control of over 80 percent of Chinland. He added that the Arakan Army (AA) is supporting its offensive against pro-regime forces.
Paletwa Township, 200 miles (321 km) south of Hakha, came under AA control on Jan. 14. This has created a rift between the two factions of the Chin resistance, as the Chin Brotherhood views the AA as an ally in its fight against the regime. Meanwhile, the Chinland Council has been critical of the role the AA plays in the Chin resistance movement.
The Chinland Council was established on Feb. 1 as the government for all of Chinland, but its mandate that the Chin National Army (CNA) be the only armed force represented was rejected by many, which led to the formation of the Chin Brotherhood.
Tensions escalated between the Chinland Council and the Chin Brotherhood with fighting between the two factions taking place in Matupi Township, 170 miles (273 km) south of Hakha, on June 18. The CNA withdrew from southern Chinland six days later, on June 24.
The two factions of the Chinland resistance met for peace negotiations in India in September. According to a preliminary agreement, they said they would not encroach on each other’s areas liberated from the regime, that they would recognize the shared culture between ethnic nationalities in Chinland, and that they would continue to participate in talks organized by the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO).
Chin Brotherhood spokesperson Salai Yaw Mang told DVB that while there may be disagreements or misunderstandings between both factions of the Chin resistance, they have shared goals to eradicate the regime and to build an inclusive federal democracy.
Salai Thang Chun Phay added that the Chin Brotherhood will work with any organization to achieve peace and reconciliation in Chinland.
Over the last 12 months of fighting, the Chin Brotherhood stated that approximately 100 of its fighters have been killed and 400 have been wounded. Since the uprising to the 2021 coup began, the Chin resistance has lost 250 of its fighters with over 1,000 being wounded.
The Chin Brotherhood added that it currently holds over 600 prisoners of war, including military personnel and their families, whom they claimed are being treated under international humanitarian law, known as the Geneva Conventions.
Hakha, Falam, Tedim, and Thantlang in northern Chinland remain mostly under regime control. The CNA launched Operation Jericho against the military to take Hakha and Thantlang in November, while the Chin Brotherhood focuses on seizing Falam.
The Chin resistance now controls a total of 13 towns, including the Myanmar-India border town of Rikhawdar in Falam District, which was seized by the CNA and the CDF on Nov. 13, 2023.
