Interview | Chin Brotherhood: 'If AA were to occupy Kyaukphyu, it would be a revolutionary tsunami' (Part II)

By Admin 24 Jul 2025

DMG Newsroom

24 July 2025, Sittwe

This interview is continued from a previously published Part I.

DMG: Are there any ties between the Chin Brotherhood and the Indian government? On a related note, I'd like to know the Chin Brotherhood's policy on alliances with neighbouring countries and other groups.

Salai Yaw Mang: To put it simply, we have discussions and talks. In such cases, we want to rise from the bottom up and win. But in Chin politics, we should be careful not to use big words to make things look good, or to say things like this and that. We have had discussions about it. We are not sure enough to have a big policy about it yet.

There are general attitudes toward our cooperation with the Indian government and further engagement. Our aim is to advance the interests of the people and the success of the revolution. We proceed on the basis of mutual respect and values. There are a few such discussions and ties.

DMG: There are frequent criticisms exchanged between the Chin and Arakanese ethnic groups regarding Paletwa in Chin State, which is occupied by the Arakan Army. Why does this criticism arise? What is the Chin Brotherhood's view on the Paletwa issue?

Salai Yaw Mang: Since the Chin Brotherhood began, Paletwa has been a place where Khumi, Mara, Dai and Arakanese people live together. We look after the interests of all these people and the long-term development of all these people. Currently, Paletwa has been cleared of the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army is running the administration.

To resolve the Paletwa issue, we only have one way to go, with all the leaders who look after the interests of all the locals and who consult and cooperate. We need to find a solution that will benefit all the locals, both Chin and Arakanese, and allow them to develop freely and mutually. We need to consult and then we will make it happen. At present, people do not know the political situation in Chin State. Misinformation is being spread about the political situation in Chin State, both domestically and internationally.

Some accuse the Chin Brotherhood of being a traitor to the Chin people and a group that sells out Paletwa just because they want to attack the Chinland Council. We see this as cheap politics, mainly because they are inciting ethnic hatred and armed conflict, and then framing it as protecting the land and people in order to attract donations from abroad.

That is why we have many people who are hostile on the Paletwa issue. In fact, we need to clear Paletwa of the Myanmar military. It is very important to clear the Myanmar military from Paletwa. And Paletwa in Chin State is a major security threat to the entire Arakan State. Paletwa is a major security threat to Arakan State both during and after the revolution. The Chin armed forces in Paletwa have very hostile attitudes, views, and relationships with the Arakan Army. These are causing problems for both sides.

The Arakan Army will not hand the Paletwa region over to the hands of those who are hostile to it, and who are unilaterally attacking it. Whether it is the military regime, the People's Defence Force, the Karen National Union, the Kachin Independence Army, or anyone else, they are people who prioritise national security and national interests first. We must accept the facts, then look at the revolutionary realities and the realities on the ground, and then negotiate and resolve the issue. We must work to ensure that all Paletwa residents have freedom. The cheap words that are used to fight back and find supporters only fuel more hatred.

If we look at it through the lens of Arakan history, it [Paletwa] belongs to the Arakanese people. If we look at it through the lens of Chin history, it belongs to the Chin people. We must develop and prosper in peace and prosperity based on the present and the future. We must move in mutually beneficial directions based on the realities of the revolution and the realities on the ground. We must avoid creating hatred and fighting among ourselves through cheap political tricks.

DMG: The Chin Brotherhood is made up of six groups, so what will happen in the future? Another question is, will the Chin Brotherhood join forces with other Chin resistance groups or will it continue as it is?

Salai Yaw Mang: Our first goal was to form a single organisation from the six groups. All six Chin groups should work together to become a cohesive force. All six groups should conduct joint operations. In the battles for Matupi, Mindat and Falam, the Chin Brotherhood fought together. But we still need to improve a little bit more and do better.

Then the Chin revolutionary groups will join together later. This is our future plan. There are other revolutionary groups that want to join those six groups. But based on the lesson of Chin State, we don't want to be boastful about how many groups we have or be happy about how many groups we have. We will also scrutinise and negotiate with the groups that join us, and only join with groups that truly value self-governance, personal freedom, and equality and justice in the future, in a revolution that truly benefits the people and truly represents the people.

DMG: It was announced that the Chinland Council and the Chin Brotherhood's Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) would together form the Chin National Council. How far along are those plans?

Salai Yaw Mang: There are plans to form the Chin National Council. In our Chin politics, everyone is very united and all are good people. There are no bad people in Chin politics; we have never seen anything that could not be done together.

We need to respect each other to build trust, because when people from different groups meet, even those who have never spoken to each other, trust is gradually built. Only after building trust gradually, as trust becomes stronger, as trust becomes more certain, cooperation gradually increases and grows.

The Chinland Council and the Chin Brotherhood need to build trust even more than the Arakan Army. Because we have been abused in various ways and our trust has been violated so much that we need to build trust even more. If we ignore the fact that we need to build trust and respect each other, and then ignore how we can come together, that is an unrealistic approach to a political movement.

We are also people who want to unite; people who want to complete the revolution; people who want to be united. We have already joined forces - when the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC) was formed, and when the Chinland Joint Defense Committee (CJDC) was formed. But after those unifications, we saw no results, and we have repeatedly warned against making the same mistake again.

The people are hopeful. This is not just a matter for the Chin people, but for the entire country. Only two battalions - the Myanmar military's Battalion Nos. 269 and 265 - are left to defeat in order to liberate the entire Chin State. To put it bluntly, we are in a position to actually make it happen. It would be good if all the Chin revolutionary groups could unite, but there are many things that are delaying it. In the meantime, there is a situation where we are meeting and talking. We have to wait and see what results will emerge and what will happen.

DMG: What are the Chin Brotherhood's political goals for building a future Chin State? For example, to what extent does the Chin Brotherhood aim for individual independence within a federal framework? What kind of federal union does the Chin Brotherhood envision?

Salai Yaw Mang: We can only speak in broad terms. What I want to say is that the Chin Brotherhood's vision must have a full federalism essence. The Chin Brotherhood wants to build a federal union based on self-governance, self-determination, equality, and justice. Sometimes, the word federal is the same, but the essence and understanding are different. The word federalism that we are talking about now roughly means that Myanmar must become a federal union.

When federal units and federal states come into existence, we too must remain a part of this union. We must have full self-determination, self-governance, and personal freedom. We will cooperate in the entire union based on the principles of justice, equality, and freedom. If autonomy is a federalism concept, then we don't need to talk about autonomy. Naga and Danu are self-administered zones. But these areas only talk about autonomy, but they have no substance. Next time, we want to go for a politics that is full of substance rather than superficial words. We can only do this in the 21st century by working together and not based on ethnicity.

We must do it for the country and the people. Because whether it is Chin Brotherhood or Mindat PDF, we cannot rule only the Chin people in our area. Whether they are Burmese, Yaw, or Arakanese, they will come to our area. Chin people will also go whether they are Kachin, Yaw, or Arakanese. In such a situation, we must build a federal union with fair judicial processes that guarantee basic human rights. Federalism must also have a federal essence. That is what we are focused on. Creating a separate country or secession is not an idea in our situation and our scale.

DMG: Another matter is that there are often tense relations, even fighting between the Chin National Front/Chin National Army and the Chin Brotherhood. What are the root causes of these problems? What are the solutions?

Salai Yaw Mang: It's hard to say. I'm worried that if I say something, it will be like saying something bad to the other side. I don't have anything good to say. When the Chinland Joint Defense Committee (CJDC) was formed and during the No. 1 Operation Area, there were plans between us to buy weapons and to form an alliance. We have been constantly faced with the Chin National Front/Chin National Army constantly trying to weaken the resistance groups, instigating, breaking up, and using positions, money, and weapons to disintegrate the group, preventing it from cooperating with other Chin resistance groups.

Because of all these things, there is no trust between the two sides. In the revolution, we also think that we must fight the military regime with weapons, since it is an armed revolution. Whether it is our freedom, our inherent human rights, or whatever, we believe that all of these rights will be obtained after fighting the military regime. We do not see the military regime as a group that can be negotiated with through diplomatic relations.

Sometimes, the Chin National Front/Chin National Army, whether it is just being patient or thinking about the long term, uses other political methods to flatter the people and make them feel better. When they do that, the people become confused. In politics, whether it is with Arakanese or Burmese, there are already ethnic hatreds and racial hatreds that are causing instability in the region. Doing things like that to make some difficulties worse and increase problems is very disruptive for us, for the revolution, for regional peace and stability, and for the future.

In such a situation, if any armed groups other than CDF-Kanpetlet pass through Kanpetlet Township, they should inform CDF-Kanpetlet. This is because if they go into their territory, they should cooperate with the local resistance force and inform them. In contrast, some Chin National Army members go as they please without asking anyone's permission. Because the name is CNA, they act in a way that they claim to own the entire Chin State, and they do not respect other groups, and they do not recognise other groups. The Chin National Army has also tried to break up existing anti-regime groups.

The Chin National Front has promised to build roads and hospitals for the people, and has threatened some who do not support it with weapons or money, making it difficult for us to carry out the revolution on the ground. The revolution has also made it difficult for the Chin people. The actions of the Chin National Front have also made it difficult for those people who are not Chin, whether they are Yaw, Burmese, or Arakanese.

We don't like to build ourselves by hating and attacking each other. After improving ourselves, becoming stronger and becoming disciplined, it is not good to have enemies with other groups, but it is good to have friends. How can we solve some difficulties with patience and benefit both sides? How can we cooperate? How can we build strength for the revolution and make it a revolutionary movement? How can we do it for the people? We want to build only with the interests of the people and our hopes and beliefs.

DMG: Chin and Arakan are bordering states. In Arakan State, the AA controls 90 percent of the state's territory, so what impact would the liberation of Arakan have on Chin? What kind of relationship should Chin and Arakan build in the future?

Salai Yaw Mang: The liberation of Arakan State is not just for Chin State. It will have a huge impact on the entire country and the entire revolution. It will have a huge impact on the entire country, not to mention the Chin Brotherhood based in Chin State, which borders the region. We are talking about politics, economics, diplomacy, then economics, transportation, and finally military-related weapons and ammunition. If Arakan State is completely liberated from the military regime, it will have a huge impact.

The liberation of Arakan State will have more impact on the Chin Brotherhood. India could also have more contact with the Arakan Army. For example, the Chin Brotherhood's control is quite large. Chin State is a small area. Even India has started talking to us. The Indian central government has even started talking to us and connecting with us.

In this situation, China may build relations with the Arakan Army regarding the Belt & Road Initiative, Kaladan Project, oil and gas pipeline. We understand that how the revolution ends depends a lot on China. It is a reality that we will have to accept, whether we like it or not. It is certain that those who do not accept China and those who do not cooperate with China will not win the revolution. To put it bluntly, China may become more involved in Myanmar's internal affairs if necessary due to its interests.

China will get involved in the Myanmar conflict as much as it thinks it needs to to protect its interests. China is providing fuel and water to both the Myanmar regime and the rebel groups. But if China thinks it needs it, if it thinks it needs it for its own interests, then there will be much greater involvement. This is the harsh truth.

How do we handle this and how can we do it? It has to do with the Arakan Army's seizure of the entire Arakan State. If the Arakan Army were to occupy Kyaukpyu, I think it would be a huge revolutionary tsunami against the military dictatorship. In connection with that, the Arakan Army has good relations with the Chin Brotherhood in particular. The Arakan Army and Chin Brotherhood help each other.

Armed conflict is a temporary solution. At present, armed conflict is the most important solution because it is an armed revolution to overthrow the military dictatorship. In the future, only peace, stability, and prosperity will be the solution to the conflict. I mean, the economy will be the solution. For us, armed conflict is the solution, as well as the economy.

In such a situation, during the current revolutionary period, the sure way out for Arakan State is Chin State. For example, as long as Magway, Ayeyarwady, and Bago regions are under the control of the military regime, the only way out for Arakan is Chin State. From now on, for the revolution, for politics, and for the economy, all of them will have to rely on each other and work together.

DMG: Finally, what would you like to say about the Chin revolution and the goals of the Chin Brotherhood?

Salai Yaw Mang: The Chin Brotherhood wants to rid the areas under its control and the Chinland Council's control of the Myanmar military. We are trying to establish a unified command system for each anti-regime force. If the Chin Brotherhood becomes one command, it can become a joint command and military operations can begin. If the joint command is successful, we will become one army and all six groups will start basic military training and then go out like this.

We are thinking about what will happen in Magway and Sagaing, which are bordering Chin State, how they can carry out the revolution, and how we can cooperate with the resistance groups in mainland Myanmar. For example, in Chin State, the Chin Brotherhood has a wider area of control.

We control Matupi, Kanpetlet, Mindat, Falam and Tedim. The rest of Tonzang is not under the control of the Myanmar military. There are only a few Myanmar military members in Hakha and Thanglang. As for how to liberate Hakha and Thanglang, there will be consultations as we discussed earlier.

We have to think about how the liberation of Chin State and other states related to Chin State will lead to offensives. How the Spring Revolution will unfold, and how the fall of the military dictatorship will unfold.

Politically, how will we continue to participate in the federal union? Will our basic values and the values of the Chin Brotherhood remain the same? How will we participate in the federal union as a region with such a federal essence? Much can change in the wake of the Spring Revolution in Myanmar.

For example, Kawthoolei and Ta'ang states and many federal units will emerge. In the meantime, we need to think with great foresight.