After the 2021 military coup, the Chin National Army (CNA) joined forces with a new armed group called the Chinland Defence Force (CDF). But a split in the resistance lead to a new group called the Chin Brotherhood. On June 29, the Chin Brotherhood seized control of Matupi Township, in southern Chinland, after clashes with the CNA and CDF.
TRANSCRIPT—What’s happening in Myanmar’s western Chin State is worth your attention.
After the 2021 military coup, the Chin National Army (CNA) scrapped the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) it signed in 2015.
To mount an effective resistance to the military, the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) joined forces with the CNA in April 2021.
Together with Chin political parties and civil society, the Chinland Constitution was drafted.
This culminated in the Chinland Council, a provisional government with executive, legislative and judicial branches, in February.
But some in the Chin resistance disagreed and said the council failed to conform to democratic standards.
The Chinland Council is dominated by the CNA’s political wing, the Chin National Front (CNF), and the National League for Democracy (NLD).
This new faction of the resistance calls itself the Chin Brotherhood. It consists of six Chin resistance groups.
On June 29, the Chin Brotherhood seized control of Matupi Township, in southern Chinland, from the military.
Chin resistance forces now have 11 towns under its control.
The Arakan Army (AA) seized control of Paletwa Township in southern Chin State in January.
The Chinland Council accused the AA of ignoring the harmony among ethnic groups by forcibly recruiting Paletwa residents.
Fighting between the Chinland Council forces, led by the CNA, and the Chin Brotherhood took place in Matupi.
But CNA troops withdrew a week later, on June 24.
So far, efforts to unite the two factions of the Chin resistance have been unsuccessful.
The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) told DVB that there are over 200,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Around 60,000 have taken refuge in India due to the fighting across Chinland.
