Zomi Revolutionary Army facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zomi Revolutionary Army |
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Participant in Internal conflict in Myanmar
Insurgency in Northeast India
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Flag of the Zomi people, adopted by the ZRA
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| Active | 1997–present |
| Ideology | Zomi nationalism |
| Leaders | Thanglianpau Guite |
| Headquarters | Churachandpur, Manipur, India |
| Allies |
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| Opponents | State opponents:
Military Junta (SAC) Non-state opponents:
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The Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) is an armed group formed in 1997. It was created after disagreements grew between different groups of people, the Thadou-Kuki people and the Paite people, in the Churachandpur district of Manipur, India. The ZRA's main goal is to unite all the Zomi people. Its parent organization, the Zomi Re-unification Organisation (ZRO), started in April 1993. The leader of this armed group is Thanglianpau Guite.
Contents
What is the Zomi Revolutionary Army?
How the Zomi Identity Began
After World War II, people who spoke Kuki-Chin languages in Northeast India and Myanmar's Chin State started to identify as "Zo people." In 1946, people in the Lushai Hills district of India (now Mizoram) began to call themselves "Mizo."
In 1953, Baptist groups in Myanmar's Chin State chose "Zomi" as their "national" name. This name included many different tribal groups. In India's Manipur state, T. Gougin formed the "United Zomi Organisation" in 1961 and the "Zomi National Congress" in 1972.
The Zomi Re-unification Organisation (ZRO) was officially formed in April 1993. It was created in Kachin State, Myanmar, by leaders from the Tedim Chins and Paite people. The ZRO's main aim was to bring together all Zo people who were separated by national borders in India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. They wanted to unite them under one "Zomi" identity.
Formation of the ZRA
By 1995, seven Zo tribes in Manipur's Churachandpur district joined the Zomi Re-unification Organisation. These tribes were the Hmar, Zou, Vaiphei, Gangte, Simte, Sukte (Tedim Chins), and Paite. The Paite people were the main leaders of this group. They celebrate their formation day as Zomi Nam Ni on February 20th each year.
By 1997, the ZRO also created an armed part called the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA). This group was formed to protect the tribes under its umbrella from other rival tribes, especially the Thadou Kukis.
History of the ZRA
When the ZRA was formed, there were growing tensions between the Kukis (mostly Thadou-Kukis) and the Zomi tribes. Many Thadou-Kukis moved to the Churachandpur district, which was mainly home to Paites. This also led to an armed group called the Kuki National Front (KNF) asking for more money from people.
The ZRO and ZRA did not agree with KNF's demands from the "Zomi" community. They also criticized KNF for fighting with the Naga militant group NSCN-IM. In return, the KNF thought ZRA was working with NSCN-IM.
Conflicts and Changes
A conflict between the Kukis and Zomis started in June 1997 and lasted for a year. The ZRA faced difficulties because they were not well-armed. Some Paite fighters went to Myanmar, where they joined with NSCN-IM to get more weapons and reorganize.
After this conflict, the Gangte and Hmar tribes left the Zomi group. The ZRA reportedly supported itself by collecting "protection fees" and sometimes taking people against their will in the Churachandpur district.
Both KNF and ZRA experienced splits and new groups forming. For example, in 1997, the Zou tribes created the Zou Defence Volunteers (ZDV). In 2005, the Vaipheis, who were unhappy with how they were treated by the Zomis, formed their own armed group called the United Socialist Revolutionary Army (USRA). The Hmars also formed the Hmar National Army (HNA). A rival Paite group called the Zomi Revolutionary Front (ZRF) was also created.
These rival groups eventually joined a Kuki-led group called the Kuki National Organisation (KNO). The Paite-led groups also formed their own group called the United People's Front (UPF). All these groups engaged in unlawful activities like collecting money unfairly and other illegal actions.
Peace Agreements in India
In August 2005, both KNO and UPF signed a "Suspension of Operations" (SoO) agreement with the Indian security forces. This agreement meant they would stop fighting. In 2008, this was updated to a three-way agreement with the Indian Home Ministry and the Government of Manipur.
The armed groups agreed to stop violence and illegal activities. The government agreed not to attack them. The groups provided lists of their members and agreed to stay in special camps. Their weapons were stored safely.
In 2010, the Indian Home Minister visited a ZRA camp. He promised to discuss the Zomi's request for an autonomous (self-governing) hill state within Manipur. This request has since changed to asking for a self-governing council, similar to the Bodoland Territorial Council.
ZRA Eastern Command in Myanmar
Even though the ZRO started in Myanmar, it didn't seem to have many followers there at first. Around 2010, reports suggested the ZRA had about 200 fighters, mostly from the Churachandpur district in India.
Around 2020, news began to mention an "Eastern Command" (EC) of the ZRA in Myanmar's Chin State. Reports said this group was attacking the Chinland Defence Force and had allied with the Burmese military.
In January 2022, ZRA-EC reportedly clashed with Chin National Front and Chin National Army (CNF/CNA) resistance forces. Even though ZRA-EC said it supported the resistance, attacks continued. By May 2024, reports confirmed ZRA-EC was active in Tonzang and Tedim Townships in Chin State, and Kalay and Tamu Townships in Sagaing Region. It was fighting resistance forces alongside the Burmese military.
Leadership of the ZRA
The first president of the ZRO in 1993 was Khaijasong Guite (K. Guite). Later, Thanglianpau Guite became its president.
Thanglianpau was a leader of the Zomi National Congress in Chin State and was elected to Myanmar's Parliament in 1990. He later moved to India. He is credited with forming both the ZRO and the ZRA.
Where the ZRA Operates
The ZRA mainly operates in areas of Myanmar and in the Churachandpur district of Manipur, India. They are very active in the Singngat subdivision of Churachandpur, which is close to the Myanmar border. Their areas of operation also include parts of Manipur and Mizoram that border each other. The ZRA also works in Myanmar's Chin State through its "ZRA Eastern Command."
How the ZRA Gets Money
The ZRA reportedly gets money by collecting "protection fees" from local people in the areas where they operate. They claim that in return for this money, they protect locals from being harmed or taken by rival groups.
In June 2004, local news reported that the ZRA accused the Mizo National Front (MNF) government in Mizoram of not fully paying ZRA members. These members had campaigned for MNF candidates. A leader in Mizoram claimed that the MNF owed the ZRA money for "services," and because they hadn't paid, the ZRA started collecting fees from people in Mizoram.
Alliances with Other Groups
The ZRA works closely with groups like the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM). They also have an agreement with the Kuki Liberation Organization (KLO). This agreement promises "full cooperation" to strengthen ties among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo/Zomi peoples.
The ZRA was once in conflict with the Hmar People's Convention-Democracy (HPC-D). However, the two groups later agreed to "work closely" for the well-being of their people and to achieve shared goals.
In 2019, the ZRO was part of the United People's Front. This was a larger group of six or seven ethnic organizations with armed parts that formed in the 1990s.
Peace Talks in India
On August 9, 2005, the ZRA announced that they had reached a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government. This agreement was set to last for six months, starting from August 1st. The ZRA stated that they saw the Indian government's actions as a positive step towards understanding their history and finding a lasting solution for the Zomi people's hopes. Despite this agreement, Indian security forces reportedly carried out operations against the ZRA during the ceasefire period.
ZRA and the Myanmar Civil War
Even though the ZRA Eastern Command (ZRA-EC) first said it was not working with the military government in Myanmar, news began to show that ZRA was cooperating with the Myanmar military. ZRA-EC was reportedly working under the command of the military and continuously attacked Chin resistance forces. It also helped the Myanmar military in its battles against the resistance.
ZRA-EC was also accused of being involved in illegal activities in Tonzang Township, Chin State. A 2022 survey showed that such illegal activities, which were not present in Chin State before February 2021, suddenly increased in ZRA-controlled areas.
In late August and early September 2023, the Chinland Defense Force reported that two of their soldiers were killed after ZRA-EC attacked their bases in Tonzang Township. During one attack, the CDF was greatly outnumbered, and military equipment was taken. Another camp was attacked the following week, where ZRA killed one CDF fighter and took a rifle. By September 2023, the ZRA had attacked Chin resistance camps at least three times. Another Chin resistance group, PDF Zoland, also accused ZRA-EC of killing one of their leaders in December 2021.
In May 2024, battles broke out again in Tonzang township. Chin resistance forces, including CNA and CDFs, fought against ZRA-EC and its allies, the Myanmar military. Residents of Tonzang said that ZRA-EC and the Myanmar military blocked the town, stopping people from leaving. On May 20, 2024, Chin resistance forces captured Tonzang from ZRA-EC and the Myanmar military. During the battle, one ZRA fighter and two military police were captured by the Chin resistance.
Notable Events
- On June 9, 2005, ZRA fighters attacked a truck in Churachandpur district carrying Zomi Revolutionary Front (ZRF) fighters. Three ZRF members and one civilian were killed. This attack was in response to the ZRF leaving the ZRA.
- On September 20, 2005, ZRA fighters clashed with other fighters from the Zomi Revolutionary Front, resulting in six deaths. One ZRA member was also injured.
- On August 20, 2006, two civilians were killed and four injured when Indian security forces fired on a group of churchgoers in Churachandpur. They mistakenly believed ZRA members were present.
- On January 10, 2010, three ZRA fighters were killed in a clash with fighters from the People's Liberation Army of Manipur in Tonzang Township, Chin State. One PLA member was also killed.
- On January 15, 2010, two ZRA fighters were killed in a clash with fighters from the Revolutionary People's Front in Manipur.
- Between August and September 2023, ZRA members attacked Chinland Defense Force camps in Myanmar.
- On May 20, 2024, Chin resistance forces, including the Chin National Army and Chinland Defense Force, captured Tonzang from ZRA and the Myanmar military.
See also
In Spanish: Ejército Revolucionario Zomi para niños
