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38-996: The Zomi Revolutionary Army ( ZRA ) is an armed Zomi nationalist militant group formed in 1997, following an increase in ethnic tensions between the Kuki people (i.e. the Thadou ) and the Paite tribe in Churachandpur district of Manipur , India . Its parent organisation, the Zomi Re-unification Organisation , was founded in April 1993. The Zo identity for the Kuki-Chin language speaking people spread across Northeast India and Myanmar's Chin State began to take shape soon after World War II. The people of

76-550: A Kuki identity, agreed to come under the banner of Zomi Re-unification Organisation in 1995. The seven tribes were Hmar , Zou , Vaiphei , Gangte , Simte , Sukte ( Tedim Chins ) and Paite , with the Paites leading the collection. Its formation day is said to be observed on 20 February every year as Zomi Nam Ni . By 1997, the organisation also formed an underground military wing called Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA, also referred to as "Zomi Re-unification Army") ostensibly to defend

114-818: A UNODC survey in 2022 that poppy cultivation, which did not exist in Chin state prior to the military coup in February 2021, suddenly saw a rise in Chin state, concentrating in ZRA-controlled areas. In late August and early September 2023, the Chinland Defense Force claimed that two of their soldiers were killed after the ZRA-EC attacked bases in Tonzang Township. During the first raid, the CDF

152-599: A permanent solution to the long standing aspirations of the Zomi people". In spite of this agreement, the Indian security forces allegedly conducted operations against ZRA during the ceasefire. Although ZRA Eastern Command (ZRA-EC) initially claimed to not be cooperating with the military junta, the State Administration Council , news began to surface about ZRA's cooperation with Myanmar military . ZRA-EC

190-636: A public statement claiming to be supporting the resistance forces, the attacks on them continued. In May 2024, the reports became more substantial, saying ZRA-EC was active in Tonzang and Tedim Townships in Chin State, and Kalay and Tamu Townships in Sagaing Region and that it was fighting the resistance forces in conjunction with the Burmese military. The founding president of ZRO in 1993

228-645: A result of the Kuki–Paite conflict, the Gangte and Hmar tribes left the Zomi umbrella. ZRA is said to have supported itself through extortion and occasional kidnapping in the Churachandpur district. Following the seminal clashes, both KNF and ZRA faced splits and defections, and saw the formation of new groups rivalling themselves. In 1997, Zou tribes formed Zou Defence Volunteers (ZDV) in Chandel district . In 2005,

266-739: A so-called " ZRA Eastern Command ". The ZRA's maintains close alliances with the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM). The group also has a memorandum of understanding with the Kuki Liberation Organization (KLO) that promises "full cooperation in all spheres, with the objective of strengthening the blood ties among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo/Zomi peoples". The ZRA

304-496: A specific portfolio ranging from public relations to medical affairs. The primary objective of the organisation is to advocate for the rights and recognition of the Kuki people . They seek the resurrection of Zale’n-gam , the traditional homeland of the Kukis, which spans across parts of northeast India and northwest Myanmar. The organisation aims to achieve recognition of Zale’n-gam's territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as

342-695: Is mentioned as Khaijasong Guite (K. Guite) from the Karbi Anglong district in Assam. Later Thanglianpau Guite (Thang Lian Pau, referred to as "TLP") is mentioned as its president. According to a US State Department cable, Thanglianpau was a general secretary of the Zomi National Congress in the Chin State, and was elected to the Parliament of Myanmar in 1990. Later he was expelled from the party and migrated to India. The cable attributes

380-630: The Kuki-Chin language -speaking people in India and Myanmar. The term means " Zo people". The groups adopting the Zomi identity reject the conventional labels " Kuki " and " Chin ", popularised during the British Raj , as colonial impositions. Even though "Zomi" was originally coined as an all-encompassing identity of the Kuki-Chin-speaking people, in practice, it has proved to be divisive, with considerable number of groups continuing to use

418-688: The "Zomi" community, and allegedly berated KNF for picking a conflict with the Naga militant group NSCN-IM . The KNF in turn suspected ZRA of teaming up with NSCN-IM. A year-long conflict between the Kukis and Zomis erupted in June 1997, in which the ZRA is said to have taken a beating due to having been inadequately armed. According to security specialist E. N. Rammohan, the Paite fighters fled to Myanmar, where they teamed up with NSCN-IM to regroup and arm themselves. As

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456-407: The 1990s. On 9 August 2005, the ZRA released a statement, saying that they had reached a ceasefire agreement with the Indian government, which was to last for six months starting from 1 August. The ZRA also said that they had "viewed the steps taken by the Indian government in this regard as a positive approach towards the better understanding of our unique history, and the realisation of the need for

494-704: The Center of the Heart . The film first premiered in Michigan, where Mung was resettled by U.S. refugee services as a teenager. Kuki National Organisation The Kuki National Organisation was founded in 1988, with PS Haokip serving as its president and the supreme commander of the Kuki National Army . Anton Kuki holds the position of Home Secretary within the organisation. The late Brigadier Vipin Haokip

532-630: The Chin hills and surrounding regions. The Zo identity for the Kuki-Chin language speaking people spread across Northeast India and Myanmar's Chin State began to take shape soon after World War II. The people of the then Lushai Hills district in India (present-day Mizoram ) rallied behind a "Mizo" ("Zo people") identity in 1946. In 1953, the Baptist Associations of Tedim , Falam and Hakha in Myanmar's Chin State adopted Zomi ("Zo people") as their "national" name (subsuming

570-558: The Kuki-Zo people divided across national borders (India, Myanmar and Bangladesh) under a united "Zomi" identity. With these antecedents, seven Kuki-Zo tribes of Churachandpur district in Manipur, that had previously declined to accept a Kuki identity, agreed to come under the banner of Zomi Re-unification Organisation in 1995. The seven tribes were Hmar , Zou , Vaiphei , Gangte , Simte , Sukte ( Tedim Chins ) and Paite , with

608-399: The Myanmar military. Tonzang residents said that ZRA-EC and the Myanmar military blockaded the town, preventing any evacuations. On 20 May 2024, Chin resistance forces captured Tonzang from ZRA-EC and Myanmar military. During the battle, a ZRA combatant and two junta policemen were captured alive by the Chin resistance. Zomi people Zomi is a collective identity adopted some of

646-543: The Paites leading the collection. Its formation day is said to be observed on 20 February every year as Zomi Nam Ni . By 1997, the organisation also formed an underground military wing called Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) ostensibly to defend the tribes under its umbrella from rival tribes, mainly the Thadou Kukis . During 1997–1998, serious Kuki–Paite clashes developed in the Churachandpur district of Manipur, killing 350 people and displacing 13,000 people. At

684-461: The Tang dynasty and Father Sangermo in 1783. The British colonial administration complicated their identity by using various names like Kuki, Lushai, and Chin, terms initially employed by non-tribal plain peoples of Burma, Bangladesh, and India to refer to the "wild hill tribes" in un-administered areas. The umbrella term " Kuki-Chin-Mizo " is often used to encompass the different ethnic groups inhabiting

722-542: The Vaipheis defected and formed their own armed group called United Socialist Revolutionary Army (USRA) and the Hmars formed Hmar National Army (HNA). A rival Paite group called Zomi Revolutionary Front (ZRF) was also formed. These rival groups eventually joined the fold of a Kuki-led umbrella group Kuki National Organisation (KNO). The Paite-led groups likewise formed an umbrella group called United People's Front (UPF). All

760-551: The Zomi are a largely Christian ethnic group and faced persecution in Myanmar under the military dictatorship. The resettlement of Zomi refugees to Tulsa was in part catalyzed by Dr. Chin Do Kham, who moved to Tulsa in the 1970s to study at Oral Roberts University , a Christian institution in southern Tulsa. The first Zomi-language movie to receive a full-length theatrical debut was a 2021 English-Zomi bilingual film, written and directed by Burmese refugee Thang Mung, called Thorn in

798-590: The cadres, and arms were deposited under a double locking system. In 2010, the Union home minister P. Chidambaram visited the ZRA camp in Muvanlai and spent 45 minutes. He promised to initiate talks on the Zomi demand for an autonomous hill state within Manipur. The demand has since evolved into an autonomous territorial council similar to the Bodoland Territorial Council . Even though ZRO

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836-682: The end of the conflict, the Hmar and Gangte tribes left the Zomi group, leaving only five tribes in the collection. As of 2018 , the Zomi are the second-largest ethnic group in the Burmese diaspora in the United States. Between 7000 and 9000 Zomi live in Tulsa, Oklahoma , which is referred to as " Zomi Town " within the Burmese diaspora. The concentration of Zomi in Tulsa is related to the fact that

874-706: The formation of both ZRO and ZRA to Thanglianpau. The ZRA mainly conducts operations in the majority areas of Paite, Simte, Vaiphei, Zou, Mizo, Chin, Gangte, Thadou and other tribes under the Zo umbrella, in the Churachandpur and other districts in Manipur . A particular area of activity is the Singngat subdivision of Churachandpur near the Myanmar border. Their operational areas include bordering regions of Manipur and Mizoram . It also operates in Chin State of Myanmar under

912-590: The groups resorted to extortion, drug trade, kidnapping for ransom, forced recruitment of young children as cadres, denial of voting rights to unarmed sections of the community etc. In August 2005, both KNO and UPF signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Indian security forces. In 2008, this was revised to a tripartite agreement joint with the Union Home Ministry and the Government of Manipur . The militant groups agreed to abjure

950-410: The path of violence, and refrain from unlawful activities such as killing, kidnapping, extortions, intimidations, carrying of arms in public, and the imposition of 'taxes' and 'fines'. The government agreed not to launch offensive operations against the armed groups. The armed groups provided lists of their cadres to the security forces, and agreed to stay in designated camps. Identity cards were issued to

988-553: The possibility of statehood within India and Myanmar . The Kuki National Organisation operates primarily in the mountainous districts of Manipur , India , and adjoining areas in Assam , as well as in the Kabaw valley of Myanmar. The Kuki National Army , the armed wing of the organisation engaged in guerrilla warfare against the military junta in Myanmar between 1991 and 1999. While

1026-921: The principal armed wing of the KNO is the Kuki National Army, it has since been joined by numerous other armed groups including: 1. Hmar National Army Thang song Hmar C-in-C 2. Kuki National Front (MC) TH German Haokip C-in-C 3. Kuki National Front (Z) Joshua Haokip C-in-C 4. United Socialist Revolutionary Army Lalminthang Vaiphei C-in-C 5. Zomi Revolutionary Front David Thangboi C-in-C 6. Zou Defence Volunteer Kamkhenpao Zou C-in-C 7. United Komrem Army Thangboi Karong C-in-C The Kuki National Organisation has pursued both peaceful negotiations and armed struggle to achieve its objectives. In India, they have submitted memoranda to various government officials since 1995, appealing for recognition and statehood. In Myanmar, they have engaged in violent conflict against

1064-481: The then Lushai Hills district in India (present-day Mizoram ) rallied behind a "Mizo" ("Zo people") identity in 1946. In 1953, the Baptist Associations of Tedim , Falam and Hakha in Myanmar's Chin State adopted Zomi ("Zo people") as their "national" name (subsuming the various tribal identities). In India's Manipur state, T. Gougin formed a "United Zomi Organisation" in 1961 and "Zomi National Congress" in 1972. The final step in these Zomi nationalist movements

1102-515: The traditional labels "Kuki" and "Chin" and only certain sections adopting the Zomi identity. The groups covered in the identity has varied with time. Compound names such as "Kuki-Zo" and "Zomi Chin" are sometimes used to paper over the divisions. The term "Zomi" combines the ancestral name "Zo" with "mi," meaning people in Zopau, their spoken language. Historically, the term Zo or Jo has been documented in various contexts, such as by Fan Chuo of

1140-511: The tribes under its umbrella from rival tribes, mainly the Thadou Kukis . At the time of the formation of ZRA, the tensions between the Kukis (mainly Thadou-Kukis) and the tribes belonging to the Zomi grouping were on the rise. The Kuki–Naga conflict caused many Thadou-Kukis to migrate to the Churachandpur district, which was previously dominated by Paites, and also caused the armed group Kuki National Front (KNF) to increase its demands for contributions. ZRO and ZRA objected to KNF's demands from

1178-488: The various tribal identities). In India's Manipur state, T. Gougin formed a "United Zomi Organisation" in 1961 and "Zomi National Congress" in 1972. The final step in these Zomi nationalist movements was taken in April 1993, when a Zomi Re-unification Organisation (ZRO) was formed at Phapian in Kachin State of Myanmar, under the leadership of Tedim Chins and Paites . It had the professed objective of unifying all

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1216-585: Was attacking Chinland Defence Force , having allied with the Burmese military junta. In January 2022, ZRA-EC is said to have clashed with Chin National Front and Chin National Army (CNF/CNA) resistance forces, and lost four fighters. People's Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA) is also said to be using similar strategies in fighting the Myanmarese resistance forces. Even though ZRA-EC issued

1254-571: Was greatly outnumbered, and military equipment was seized. Another camp was raided the following week, ZRA killing one CDF fighter, and confiscating one rifle. By September 2023, the ZRA raided camps of the Chin resistance forces at least three times. PDF Zoland, another Chin resistance group, also accused ZRA-EC of killing one of their leaders in December 2021. In May 2024, battles again broke out in Tonzang township between Chin resistance forces consisting of CNA and CDFs against ZRA-EC and its allies,

1292-477: Was once in conflict with the Hmar People's Convention -Democracy (HPC-D), but the two groups reached an agreement to "work closely in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation for the welfare of the people and for achieving their shared objectives". In 2019, ZRO was reported to be part of United People's Front, an umbrella group of six or seven ethnic organisations with armed wings which were formed in

1330-557: Was originally founded in the Kachin State of Myanmar, it does not appear that it had much following in Myanmar. A US State Department cable from c.  2010 stated that ZRA had 200 fighers from mostly Paites (presumably from Churachandpur district). Five fighters from Chin National Army (CNA) were said to have joined it after CNA became defunct. By around 2020, reports started appearing referring to an "Eastern Command" (EC) of ZRA in Myanmar's Chin State . Reports said that it

1368-540: Was said to be operating under the proxy command of the junta’s Regional Tactical Command based in nearby Kalay in Sagaing Region and it continually attacked Chin resistance forces and aided Myanmar military in its battles against the resistance. ZRA-EC was also accused to be involved in opium cultivation with the Myanmar military junta's assistance in Tonzang Township , Chin state, as it was reported in

1406-458: Was taken in April 1993, when a Zomi Re-unification Organisation ( ZRO ) was formed at Phapian in Kachin State of Myanmar, under the leadership of Tedim Chins and Paites . It had the professed objective of unifying all the Zo people divided across national borders (India, Myanmar and Bangladesh) under a united "Zomi" identity. With these antecedents, seven Zo tribes of Churachandpur district in Manipur, that had previously declined to accept

1444-534: Was the first Chief of Army Staff of the Kuki National Army , succeeded by Colonel S Robert in January 2005. The leadership of the Kuki National Organisation includes various cabinet members such as Khaikholun, Lalminthang Vaiphei, SNG Haokip, Amitabh TS Haokip, Zale’n Kuki, Joshua Haokip, TH German Haokip, David Thangboi, Kamkhenpao Zou, Thangboi Karong, and Thangsang Hmar. Each member holds

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