Zomi revolutionary army
Encyclopedia
The Zomi Revolutionary Army, formed n April 1993 at Phapian (Kachin State
), Burma is the armed wing of the Zomi Revolutionary Organization (ZRO). Pu K Guite, a Zomi
leader from Karbi Anglong (Mikir Hills of Assam), is the founder President of the organization.
people in Myanmar
(Chin State
), Bangladesh
(Chittagong Hill Tracts
), and northeast India (Manipur and Mizoram
). It aims to unite all Zomi people under one governing unit, known as a Zogam
, meaning "land of the Zomi" under the Indian Union..
(MNF) government in Mizoram only partially paid the group for campaigning for its candidates in Champhai
. Opposition leader Lal Thanhawla alleged that the MNF owed ZRA payment for these services, and since MNF failed to pay, ZRA would begin collecting fees from residents of Mizoram .
with the Kuki Liberation Organization promising "full cooperation in all spheres with the objective of strengthening the blood ties among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo-Zomi people" . ZRA also ended its conflict with the Hmar People's Convention-Democracy, reaching 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" .
On September 20, 2005, ZRA militants clashed with Zomi Revolutionary Front forces, killing six men; one ZRA activist was also injured .
On August 20, 2006, The Indian Army killed two civilians and injured four others when they opened fire towards a party of Churchgoers at Vengnuam in the Churachandpur district which is the ZRA's stronghold on the wrong pretext that ZRA members were present.
On January 15, 2010, two ZRA militants died in a clash with members of the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the armed wing of the People's Liberation Army in interior Manipur .
Kachin State
Kachin State , is the northernmost state of Burma. It is bordered by China to the north and east; Shan State to the south; and Sagaing Division and India to the west. It lies between north latitude 23° 27' and 28° 25' longitude 96° 0' and 98° 44'. The area of Kachin State is . The capital of the...
), Burma is the armed wing of the Zomi Revolutionary Organization (ZRO). Pu K Guite, a Zomi
Zomi
Zomi is the name of a major tribe found in various parts of South and South East Asia. The term Zomi meaning, 'Zo People' is derived from the generic name 'Zo', the progenitor of the Zomi. They are found in northwestern Myanmar, northeastern India and Bangladesh. Anthropologists classify them as...
leader from Karbi Anglong (Mikir Hills of Assam), is the founder President of the organization.
Leadership
ZRA possesses three main leadership positions: President, General Secretary, and Information and Publicity Secretary .- President - Thanglianpau Guite
- General Secretary - D Kamsuanthang
- Information and Publicity Secretary - Jimmy Suanpu
Objective
The ZRA is a nationalist/separatist group dedicated to the defense of Zomis and the reunification of ethnic ZomiZomi
Zomi is the name of a major tribe found in various parts of South and South East Asia. The term Zomi meaning, 'Zo People' is derived from the generic name 'Zo', the progenitor of the Zomi. They are found in northwestern Myanmar, northeastern India and Bangladesh. Anthropologists classify them as...
people in Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
(Chin State
Chin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the...
), Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
(Chittagong Hill Tracts
Chittagong Hill Tracts
The Chittagong Hill Tracts comprise an area of 13,295 km2 in south-eastern Bangladesh, and borders India and Myanmar . It was a single district of Bangladesh until 1984. In that year it was divided into three separate districts: Khagrachari, Rangamati and Bandarban. Topographically, this is the...
), and northeast India (Manipur and Mizoram
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
). It aims to unite all Zomi people under one governing unit, known as a Zogam
Zogam
Zogam is the name for a territory, approximately in size, in Burma, India and Bangladesh...
, meaning "land of the Zomi" under the Indian Union..
Areas of Operation
The ZRA mainly conducts operations in Paite-dominated areas of Churachandpur in Manipur state, particularly the Singnat subdivision near Myanmar. ZRA also conducted operations in the bordering regions in Mizoram and Manipur in the past .Funding
The ZRA funds itself mainly through extortion and collection of "protection fees" from civilians who live in their areas of operations. In exchange for this fee, ZRA militants protect travelers from being shot at, kidnapped, or robbed by rival other groups. In June 2004, ZRA militants alleged that the Mizo National FrontMizo National Front
Mizo National Front is a regional political party in Mizoram, India. MNF emerged out of the Mizo National Famine Front, which was formed by Pu Laldenga to protest against the inaction of the Indian central government towards the famine situation in the Mizo areas of the Assam state in 1959. It...
(MNF) government in Mizoram only partially paid the group for campaigning for its candidates in Champhai
Champhai
Champhai is a border town in Mizoram state, in far eastern India. It is the headquarters of Champhai District, one of the eight districts in the state. It is located on the Indo-Myanmar border and is situated in a strategically important location. Because of this, it is the main business corridor...
. Opposition leader Lal Thanhawla alleged that the MNF owed ZRA payment for these services, and since MNF failed to pay, ZRA would begin collecting fees from residents of Mizoram .
Links to other Terrorist Groups
The ZRA maintains ties mainly to two other groups: Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah, Furthermore, ZRA reached a memorandum of understandingMemorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
with the Kuki Liberation Organization promising "full cooperation in all spheres with the objective of strengthening the blood ties among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo-Zomi people" . ZRA also ended its conflict with the Hmar People's Convention-Democracy, reaching 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" .
Previous Incidents
On June 9, 2005, ZRA cadres ambushed a truck in Churachandpur carrying Zomi Revolutionary Front (ZRF) militants, killing three ZRF men and one civilian; this attack occurred as retaliation for ZRF defection from ZRA .On September 20, 2005, ZRA militants clashed with Zomi Revolutionary Front forces, killing six men; one ZRA activist was also injured .
On August 20, 2006, The Indian Army killed two civilians and injured four others when they opened fire towards a party of Churchgoers at Vengnuam in the Churachandpur district which is the ZRA's stronghold on the wrong pretext that ZRA members were present.
On January 15, 2010, two ZRA militants died in a clash with members of the Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the armed wing of the People's Liberation Army in interior Manipur .