The Zomi Revolutionary Army is an armed Zomi nationalistinsurgent group formed in 1997, following an increase in ethnic tensions between the Kuki people (i.e. the Thadou) and the Paites tribe in Churachandpur district of Manipur, India. Its parent organisation, the Zomi Revolutionary Organisation, was founded in April 1993.[3] Pu K Guite, a Zomi leader from Karbi Anglong (Mikir Hills of Assam), is the founder president of the organisation. It is one of the most powerful group operations in Manipur and in Chin state of Myanmar(Burma).
The ZRA has three main leadership positions, President, General Secretary, and Information and Publicity Secretary. Most of its leadership are from the Zomi community.[3][4] Its current leaders are:
Thanglianpau Guite, President of the Zomi Revolutionary Army
D. Kamsuanthang, General Secretary
Jimmy Suanpu, Information and Publicity Secretary
Areas of operationEdit
The ZRA mainly conducts operations in the Paite, Simte, Vaiphei, Zou, Mizo, Chin, Gangte, Thadou and other tribes under Zo umbrella majority areas of the Churachandpur district in Manipur and other districts in Manipur, particularly the Singngat subdivision near Myanmar (Burma). Their main operation areas includes bordering regions of Manipur and Mizoram, and also in Chin State, Myanmar (Burma).[3]
FundingEdit
The ZRA allegedly funds itself through the collection of "protection fees" from locals who live in their areas of operations. In exchange for this fee, the ZRA claims they protect locals from being shot, kidnapped, or robbed by rival groups.[3] In June 2004, according to local media reports, the ZRA accused the Mizo National Front (MNF) administration in Mizoram of only partially paying ZRA cadres for campaigning on behalf of MNF candidates in Champhai. A prominent opposition leader in Mizoram, Lal Thanhawla, claimed that on 12 June 2004, the MNF owed the ZRA payment for "services rendered", and that, because the MNF had failed to pay, the ZRA had begun collecting fees from residents of Mizoram.[3][4]
Alliances with other groupsEdit
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".[3] The ZRA 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".[4]
Peace negotiationsEdit
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 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.[3]
Notable incidentsEdit
This section is in list format but may read better as prose. You can help by converting this section, if appropriate. Editing help is available.(November 2018)
On 9 June 2005, ZRA insurgents ambushed a truck in Churachandpur district carrying Zomi Revolutionary Front (ZRF) insurgents, killing three ZRF members and one civilian. This attack was in retaliation for the ZRF's defection from the ZRA.[5]
On 20 September 2005, ZRA insurgents clashed with other insurgents belonging to the Zomi Revolutionary Front, resulting in six deaths; one ZRA activist was also injured.[6]
On 20 August 2006, two civilians were killed and four others were injured after Indian security forces opened fire on a group of churchgoers in the Vengnuam subdivision of Churachandpur, the ZRA's stronghold, believing incorrectly that ZRA members were present.[7]
On 15 January 2010, two ZRA insurgents were killed in a clash with insurgents belonging the Revolutionary People's Front, the armed faction of the People's Liberation Army of Manipur operating in interior Manipur.[8]
^"Chin National Front Signs Deal with Myanmar's Shadow Govt". The Irrawaddy. 29 May 2021. from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
^"Paul Lu: ZRO/ZRA Has Abducted And Killed Our CJDC Members". Burma News International. from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
^ abcdefg"Zomi Revolutionary Organisation / Zomi Revolutionary Army". satp.org. from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
^ abc"Fact Sheet for Zomi Revolutionary Organisation - Silobreaker". Silobreaker.com. from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
^"BBC News - South Asia - ambush kills nine Indian soldiers". News.bbc.co.uk. from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
^"CZC flays CCpur Church attack : 29th aug06 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". E-pao.net. from the original on 15 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
^"news.outlookindia.com - Two militants killed in Manipur". News.outlookindia.com. from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
External linksEdit
National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism
South Asia Terrorism Portal
Zomi Re-Unification Organization
October 20, 2023
zomi, revolutionary, army, armed, zomi, nationalist, insurgent, group, formed, 1997, following, increase, ethnic, tensions, between, kuki, people, thadou, paites, tribe, churachandpur, district, manipur, india, parent, organisation, zomi, revolutionary, organi. The Zomi Revolutionary Army is an armed Zomi nationalist insurgent group formed in 1997 following an increase in ethnic tensions between the Kuki people i e the Thadou and the Paites tribe in Churachandpur district of Manipur India Its parent organisation the Zomi Revolutionary Organisation was founded in April 1993 3 Pu K Guite a Zomi leader from Karbi Anglong Mikir Hills of Assam is the founder president of the organisation It is one of the most powerful group operations in Manipur and in Chin state of Myanmar Burma Zomi Revolutionary ArmyFlag of the Zomi people adopted by the ZRALeadersThanglianpau Guite Sia PauDates of operation1997 1997 presentGroup s Zomi Revolutionary OrganisationHeadquartersChurachandpur Manipur IndiaIdeologyZomi nationalism Zomi interestsAlliesNon state allies National Socialist Council of Nagaland IM Kuki Liberation Organisation memorandum of understanding Non state opponents Chin National Army 1 Chinland Defense Force 2 Battles and warsInternal conflict in Myanmar Myanmar civil war 2021 present Insurgency in Northeast IndiaThe ZRA s proclaimed objective is to protect the interests of the Zo ethnic groups and to unite the Zomi peoples Contents 1 Leadership 2 Areas of operation 3 Funding 4 Alliances with other groups 5 Peace negotiations 6 Notable incidents 7 References 8 External linksLeadership EditThe ZRA has three main leadership positions President General Secretary and Information and Publicity Secretary Most of its leadership are from the Zomi community 3 4 Its current leaders are Thanglianpau Guite President of the Zomi Revolutionary Army D Kamsuanthang General Secretary Jimmy Suanpu Information and Publicity SecretaryAreas of operation EditThe ZRA mainly conducts operations in the Paite Simte Vaiphei Zou Mizo Chin Gangte Thadou and other tribes under Zo umbrella majority areas of the Churachandpur district in Manipur and other districts in Manipur particularly the Singngat subdivision near Myanmar Burma Their main operation areas includes bordering regions of Manipur and Mizoram and also in Chin State Myanmar Burma 3 Funding EditThe ZRA allegedly funds itself through the collection of protection fees from locals who live in their areas of operations In exchange for this fee the ZRA claims they protect locals from being shot kidnapped or robbed by rival groups 3 In June 2004 according to local media reports the ZRA accused the Mizo National Front MNF administration in Mizoram of only partially paying ZRA cadres for campaigning on behalf of MNF candidates in Champhai A prominent opposition leader in Mizoram Lal Thanhawla claimed that on 12 June 2004 the MNF owed the ZRA payment for services rendered and that because the MNF had failed to pay the ZRA had begun collecting fees from residents of Mizoram 3 4 Alliances with other groups EditThe 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 3 The ZRA 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 4 Peace negotiations EditOn 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 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 3 Notable incidents EditThis section is in list format but may read better as prose You can help by converting this section if appropriate Editing help is available November 2018 On 9 June 2005 ZRA insurgents ambushed a truck in Churachandpur district carrying Zomi Revolutionary Front ZRF insurgents killing three ZRF members and one civilian This attack was in retaliation for the ZRF s defection from the ZRA 5 On 20 September 2005 ZRA insurgents clashed with other insurgents belonging to the Zomi Revolutionary Front resulting in six deaths one ZRA activist was also injured 6 On 20 August 2006 two civilians were killed and four others were injured after Indian security forces opened fire on a group of churchgoers in the Vengnuam subdivision of Churachandpur the ZRA s stronghold believing incorrectly that ZRA members were present 7 On 10 January 2010 three ZRA insurgents were killed in a clash with insurgents belonging to the People s Liberation Army of Manipur in Tonzang Township Chin State one member of PLA was also eliminated citation needed On 15 January 2010 two ZRA insurgents were killed in a clash with insurgents belonging the Revolutionary People s Front the armed faction of the People s Liberation Army of Manipur operating in interior Manipur 8 References Edit nbsp Politics portal nbsp India portal nbsp Bangladesh portal Chin National Front Signs Deal with Myanmar s Shadow Govt The Irrawaddy 29 May 2021 Archived from the original on 21 November 2021 Retrieved 30 May 2021 Paul Lu ZRO ZRA Has Abducted And Killed Our CJDC Members Burma News International Archived from the original on 28 June 2022 Retrieved 28 June 2022 a b c d e f g Zomi Revolutionary Organisation Zomi Revolutionary Army satp org Archived from the original on 2 July 2015 Retrieved 12 October 2014 a b c Fact Sheet for Zomi Revolutionary Organisation Silobreaker Silobreaker com Archived from the original on 27 February 2012 Retrieved 12 October 2014 1 Archived 29 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine BBC News South Asia ambush kills nine Indian soldiers News bbc co uk Archived from the original on 16 October 2014 Retrieved 12 October 2014 CZC flays CCpur Church attack 29th aug06 E Pao Headlines E pao net Archived from the original on 15 October 2014 Retrieved 12 October 2014 news outlookindia com Two militants killed in Manipur News outlookindia com Archived from the original on 6 October 2011 Retrieved 12 October 2014 External links EditNational Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism South Asia Terrorism Portal Zomi Re Unification Organization Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zomi Revolutionary Army amp oldid 1177911139, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
