The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: In a peace move brokered by Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma, two anti-Junta warring groups in Myanmar’s Chin State have come to an agreement to unite under a new governing body.
Although reports in the Indian media about the agreement was noted on March 5, a section of Myanmarese media had stated in February end that the representatives of the Chinland Council (CC) and the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) had signed the agreement in Mizoram’s capital city Aizawl on February 26. As per the agreement, the unified body that both these factions would come under would be called Chin National Council.
“The armed forces of both factions, the Chinland Council’s Chin National Army (CNA) and the ICNCC’s Chin Brotherhood, are working out the details on building a unified Chin resistance force to defend Chinland (Chin State) from the military regime in Naypyidaw,” reported Democratic Voice of Burma on February 28.
Quoting from the statement signed by representatives of both CC and ICNCC, the news report said, “Having two separate governing bodies for the Chin people was counterproductive so we agreed to merge.”
Myanmar Now said, “Chief minister Lalduhoma was present as the agreement was concluded on Wednesday in Aizawl, Mizoram. The Advocacy Group for Peace, formed under his direction, has been entrusted with overseeing the unification of the two Chin forces in the newly established political organisation.”
Sources in the Mizoram government told The Wire on March 6 that the agreement was arrived at after a “a week-long long discussion” with the two groups in Aizawl. When asked if New Delhi was on board on the matter with the chief minister, the sources said, “Do you think it will be possible without New Delhi’s approval? Of course, our chief minister came forward to help out also as a fellow Mizo who has the best interests of the Mizo-Chin communities across both sides of the international border.”
On March 5, when asked about his presence in the meeting, Lalduhoma told Deccan Herald, “It is my mission.” The news report quoted a central security agency sources to state that Rajya Sabha member from Mizoram, K. Vanlalvena, also visited some camps of the “rebel groups” in China state recently.
“It needs to be seen how the Centre reacts to the development. It is also not clear whether the chief minister had taken clearance from the Centre for allowing the rebels from a neighbouring country to enter and meet,” the agency sources told the newspaper.
Later, speaking to reporters during the weekly briefing in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said, “We have seen some reports on the matter. Our position on the situation in Myanmar is well known. I would also like to reiterate that foreign policy issues do not lie within the remit of the state governments.”
As per a report in Imphal Times, Jacob V. Zawma, a steering committee member of the CC and coordinator of the negotiating team, expressed optimism that the unification would strengthen the resistance movement and bring stability to the region.
“He claimed that resistance forces had already seized control of over 80% of Chinland and anticipated complete control soon,” said the report while also highlighting that the Mizoram chief minister’s involvement in the merger “has drawn sharp criticism from political observers and civil society organisations (CSOs) from Manipur.”
Since the civil war broke out in Myanmar, a large number of refugees from the Chin state have taken shelter in Mizoram. The northeastern state shares border with Myanmar’s Chin state.
Mizo people are also opposed to New Delhi’s decision to fence the India-Myanmar border. Lalduhoma has formally stated his government’s opposition to the fencing of the border to New Delhi.
In September 2024, speaking to Chin people during a visit to the United States of America, Lalduhoma had called for friendships between the Chin and Arakanese communities including the ethnic armed group Arakan Army (AA).
Note: This article was originally published on March 7 and was republished on March 8 with Union government’s response.