03/05/2025
Clan and Ethnic Group Identity Politics in Chin State: A Barrier to Peace and Democracy.
By Rev. Suan Muan Thang, M.A., MSW, D.Min, PhD – President of Global Myanmar Concern and Human Rights Advocate and Counsellor
In the unfolding struggle for democracy and federalism in Myanmar, Chin State stands at a critical crossroads. Once seen as a relatively peaceful and unified frontier, recent developments have revealed deep-seated fractures within Chin society—fractures rooted in clan-based and ethnic group identity politics. While the people of Chin State have long yearned for freedom, dignity, and development, the internal conflicts among Chin resistance groups—particularly between the Chin National Front (CNF), Chinland Defense Forces (CDFs), Chin Brotherhood, and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA)—are undermining the very foundation of unity, peace, and democratic transformation.
Identity Politics and Armed Resistance: A Complex Web
Chin State is home to a rich tapestry of tribes and sub-ethnic groups—such as the Lai, Zomi, Mizo, and others—each with its distinct dialects, histories, and loyalties. While this diversity is a source of cultural wealth, it has also been weaponized in political and military competition. Resistance movements that once claimed to fight a common enemy—the Myanmar military junta—are now turning their weapons against each other, driven by territorial claims, ideological differences, and the politics of identity.
The emergence of the Chin Brotherhood, a coalition of Chinland Defense Forces, was initially hailed as a step toward a united front. However, tensions with the Chin National Front/Army (CNF/CNA)—the longest-standing Chin revolutionary group—have escalated, leading to armed clashes. The CNF, rooted in the Lai community, has faced criticism from other Chin sub-groups who feel marginalized or excluded from decision-making structures.
A recent and troubling episode unfolded in March 2024 when CNF forces clashed with Chin Brotherhood fighters in the Mindat and Hakha areas. The conflict resulted in casualties on both sides and disrupted coordination in joint military operations against the junta. Instead of collaboration, mistrust and accusations dominate inter-group discourse.
Even more concerning is the violent tension between CNF/A and the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), which primarily represents Zomi-speaking communities in southern Chin State and across the border in India. Skirmishes in the Tonzang and Tedim regions have involved abductions, retaliatory killings, and widespread fear among civilians caught between rival Chin forces. These conflicts are no longer just ideological—they are territorial and ethnic in nature, echoing clan rivalries and perceived historical grievances.
The Cost of Fracture: Civilian Suffering and Strategic Failure
The disunity has dire consequences. Instead of presenting a formidable, united resistance against the Tatmadaw, Chin armed groups are weakening each other. Resources are wasted, morale is diminished, and grassroots support is strained. Civilians—many of whom are displaced, traumatized, or silenced—are forced to navigate a landscape of divided loyalties, often under threat from multiple sides.
Intra-Chin violence also hands the Myanmar military a dangerous advantage. By fueling local rivalries and exploiting identity divisions, the junta can delay the rise of a cohesive federal democratic movement in Chinland. This is not just a military issue—it is a political and moral crisis.
Reimagining Unity: Toward a Post-Ethnic Political Future
If Chin State is to rise and play a leading role in the federal future of Myanmar, identity-based factionalism must be confronted. It is imperative that Chin leaders—both political and religious—begin facilitating truth-telling and reconciliation within their own communities. There must be intentional efforts to:
Promote inclusive leadership structures that represent all Chin sub-groups fairly;
Adopt federal principles that prioritize autonomy and coexistence, rather than dominance by one tribe or ideology;
Establish a Chin Peace and Unity Council, composed of neutral civil society, clergy, and women leaders, to mediate between factions;
Document and acknowledge past violence, including apologies and reparations, where necessary.
Democracy cannot flourish where ethnic supremacy or clan loyalty supersedes common good. If the people of Chin State truly wish to honor the sacrifices of their fallen heroes, they must reject identity politics as a tool of division. Only in solidarity—rooted in justice and mutual respect—can peace become more than a distant hope.
Conclusion
The Chin struggle is not merely about resisting dictatorship but also about building a political culture worthy of a federal democratic future. That future cannot be built on the shaky ground of ethnic favouritism or armed factionalism. It must be forged through unity in diversity, humility in leadership, and a radical commitment to peace across all lines—tribal, linguistic, and ideological.
Let the wounds of intra-Chin conflict be a wake-up call. Let the violence between CNF, Chin Brotherhood, and ZRA not be remembered as a curse, but as a turning point toward a more just and united Chinland, Myanmar.
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