The Chin National Fronts Fight for Autonomy Amid Myanmar Military Attacks

The Chin National Fronts:-

Myanmar Military Attacks on Chin National Front's Headquarters

As explosions echoed through the air, Van Bawi Mang was suddenly jolted back to the harsh reality of war. The Chin National Front (CNF) headquarters, an ethnic armed organisation, were under attack by Myanmar military jets. The camp, located on the country's northwestern border with India, had become a target after the CNF resumed its fight for autonomy following the military coup in February 2021 and joined the nationwide pro-democracy movement. As the jets retreated, the CNF members spent a terrified night in ditches and bunkers, unsure if the attacks would continue. But their fears were not unfounded, as the military struck the following afternoon again, leaving five CNF members dead and causing significant damage to the camp's buildings, including housing and a medical centre. The Chin National Fronts-The Chin National Fronts-The Chin National Fronts-The Chin National Fronts-The Chin National Fronts The Myanmar military has remained silent about the attacks, which come amid a months-long escalation in fighting in Chin State. Airstrikes have been rising, but this marks the first time a resistance group's headquarters has been targeted.  This escalation of violence has left many worried and on edge, unsure of the future and when the next attack occurs. The situation in Chin State and throughout Myanmar is becoming increasingly tense and uncertain, with the military's actions raising severe concerns about the safety and security of ethnic minority groups and pro-democracy activists.  The international community must take action to hold those responsible accountable for these atrocities and work towards a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.

The recent attacks 

The recent attacks on the headquarters of the Chin National Front (CNF), known as Camp Victoria, have brought to light the Myanmar military's resolute efforts to eliminate opposition to their rule. Furthermore, the attacks have exposed the military's readiness to operate near the western borders of the country, even crossing into adjacent territories. The location of the camp, situated adjacent to the Tiau river which forms a boundary between Myanmar and the Indian state of Mizoram, has sparked accusations of a violation of Indian airspace and soil by the CNF, local Mizo groups, and the international human rights organization Fortify Rights. A recent investigation conducted by independent nonprofit organization Myanmar Witness has revealed that the attacks on Camp Victoria, the headquarters of the Chin National Front (CNF), were a probable violation of Indian airspace and a possible infringement of Indian sovereign territory. This claim has also been made by the National Unity Government, a coalition of elected politicians removed from power by the coup and other pro-democracy figures. In response, the administration has urged neighboring countries to deny the military access to their airspace in order to ensure regional stability, secure the safety of civilians, and safeguard the integrity of the Indian sovereign territory.

Impact on local communities

The bombings have also sparked outrage among local organisations in Mizoram, where the people share a close ethnic affinity with the Chin and have taken in more than 40,000 refugees since the coup, despite a lack of funding support from the central government. The airstrikes on Camp Victoria, the headquarters of the Chin National Front (CNF) have only served to further strengthen the Chin resistance. According to Van Bawi Mang, "The military thinks their bombs can defeat us, but they are wrong. The main thing is the spirit, the determination, and the ownership of the land...That will be our main weapon."   The Chin National Fronts-The Chin National Fronts-The Chin National Fronts-The Chin National Fronts-The Chin National Fronts A recent report from Myanmar Witness, which is based on open-source data, shows an increase in air attacks in the latter part of 2022. This is a strategy that the military has been using for decades to try to quell resistance in the country's border areas, where about two dozen ethnic armed organizations, including the CNF, are based. The recent airstrikes on Camp Victoria demonstrate the military's perspective of Chin resistance forces as 'terrorists' that need to be suppressed, even if this results in a significant loss of civilian lives, said Shona Loong, a lecturer at the University of Zurich who specializes in the political geography of armed conflict. The attacks, which affected several civilian targets, including a hospital, and forced 250 more people to flee across the border, are likely to "energize the resistance even further," she added.

International response

The Chin National Front (CNF) has issued a statement condemning the recent bombings on Camp Victoria, the CNF's headquarters, in the strongest terms. They have stated that these attacks have made it difficult for the ongoing revolution to be reversed. The bombings have also had a significant impact on Mizoram, where community groups have been taking action to assist those affected by the crisis since the coup. Mizo community organizations have spoken out strongly against the bombings, stating that these attacks are a violation of India's sovereignty and the human rights of Indian citizens, particularly those of the Mizo people. They have called on the international community to take action against the Myanmar military for their actions. Despite the recent airstrikes on Camp Victoria, experts have noted that it is unlikely to prompt a shift in India's policies towards Myanmar. Angshuman Choudhury, at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, has stated that the Indian government's relationship with the Myanmar military regime has been solidified in order to advance its own economic and strategic interests. He adds that one bombing incident along the border is unlikely to change that. The Chin resistance has expressed feelings of distrust and abandonment due to the Indian government's initial silence following the bombings. However, the CNF has extended an olive branch in its January 13 statement, urging neighboring countries to consider that maintaining relations with the military junta is neither practical nor beneficial for their long-term interests. Chin resistance leaders have also expressed hopes to engage positively with India soon, recognizing India as critical for their survival and fight for freedom. They hope India will support them as a good neighbor and a democratic country.