Zomi Revolutionary Organisation/ Zomi Revolutionary Army

Formation

The Zomi Revolutionary Organization (ZRO) was formed in 1993 and its armed wing, the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), was formed in 1997 following an escalation of ethnic violence between the Kukis and Paites in the Churachandpur district of Manipur.

Objective

The purported objective of the ZRO/ZRA is to protect the interests of the Paite community from the ‘onslaught of any community or group’. It further attempts to bring all the Zomi people, divided by artificial State boundaries in various countries, specifically in Myanmar (Chin State), India (Manipur and Mizoram) and Bangladesh (Chittagong Hills Tracts), together under one administrative unit, a ‘Zogam’, which means ‘land of the Zomi’ under the Indian Union.

Leadership and Cadres

Thang Lian Pau, reportedly a former Member of Parliament in Myanmar, is the ‘President’ of ZRO and Judgeson, the ‘Defence Director’. K. Marx Vaiphei functions as the 'Information and Public Relations Secretary' of the ZRO.

Phanznianpau Guite is the ‘President’ of the ZRA. D Kamsuanthang is the outfit’s ‘General Secretary’ and Jimmy Suanpu is its ‘Information and Publicity Secretary’.

Its cadres are mostly from the Paite community.

Areas of Operation

The outfit primarily operates in the Paite-dominated areas of Churachandpur district in Manipur, especially the Singnat sub-divisional headquarter bordering Myanmar. Its activities have also been noticed in the bordering areas in Mizoram and Manipur.

Source of Funding

The ZRA funds its activities primarily through extortion and collection of ‘protection fees’ from the civilians in its areas of operation. According to a June 2004 Frontline report, ZRA cadres, in return for a small toll fee, ensures that travellers are not looted, abducted or shot at by other armed groups.

The ZRA, according to media reports, in June 2004 alleged that some of its cadres were paid only partially by the Mizo National Front (MNF) Government in Mizoram for having campaigned for its candidates in Champhai constituency bordering Manipur. Opposition leader in Mizoram, Lal Thanhawla, alleged on June 12, 2004, that the MNF ‘owed money’ to the ZRO from "services rendered" and since a part of the money is yet to be paid, ZRO activists had resorted to collecting money from the people of Mizoram.

Linkages

The ZRA maintains close links with Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), a valley-based outfit of Manipur, and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM). The ZRO also has maintained fraternal ties with the Kuki Liberation Organisation (KLO), each providing the other "full cooperation in all spheres with the objective of strengthening the blood ties among the Kuki-Chin-Mizo-Zomi people." A ‘memorandum of understanding’ was signed between the two outfits on December 17, 2002.

Similarly, the ZRA ended its hostilities with the Hmar outfit, the Hmar People’s Convention-Democracy (HPC-D), by signing a peace agreement on April 8, 2004, at Lailam Veng, Lamka in Churachandpur district. According to terms of the agreement, both outfits agreed to work closely "in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation for the welfare of the people and for achieving their shared objectives."

Peace Negotiations

A statement by the ZRO on August 9, 2005 said that the outfit has reached a cease-fire understanding with the security forces for a period of six months, beginning August 1. The statement said that the outfit "viewed the steps taken by the Indian government in this regard as a positive approach towards better understanding of our unique history and realisation of the need for permanent solution to the long standing aspirations of the Zo people."

However, the ZRA, in spite of the announcement, continues to indulge in terrorist activities in the targeted areas.

Incidents

2008

October 19: A press release signed by ‘assistant secretary information and publicity’ of the Military Council faction of the United Kuki Liberation Army, H. Joshua Kuki, stated that the outfit has decided to merge with the ZRA for the larger interest of the Zou families for "achieving greater things and serving bigger purpose."

September 20: The leaders of the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) hold talks with ZRA and Hmar People's Conference- Democracy (HPC-D) at Churachandpur. They ask the outfits not to interfere in the coming elections to the 40-member Mizoram legislature.

August 22: The Thoubal district Police commandos arrested two militants during separate search operations. They include one ZRA cadre, Arambam Hera Singh, and a cadre of the Sengoi faction of the KCP, identified as K Inungo.

August 8: The ZRA 'arrests' two KLA militants, Kamlal alias Kenedy and Paukholet alias Jack, while allegedly trying to extort money from villagers of Sangaikot areas. The report adds that the duo demanded INR 5000 each from two villages of Molhoiphai and Bongjang along the Sugnu road and was threatening to burn homes and hearths of the villages if they failed.

March 27: One person, identified as Lalminthang, is shot dead by suspected ZRA cadres at Sim Veng in New Lamka, for his alleged involvement in the molestation of a girl at Gangpimuan cemetery under Churachandpur police station on March 26-night.

2007

May 20: SFs arrested two ZRA cadres, identified as Lutkhomang alias Michael and Moirousang, at an unspecified place and recovered ten live rounds of 9-mm pistol and a motor-cycle from their possession.

March 7: The dead body of a former militant of the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), identified as Siamthianmuan alias Benjamin, is recovered from Nghathal village in the Churachandpur district. He was reportedly abducted by ZRA cadres from his residence at New Lamka.

2006

September 21: Three ZRA cadres, Lamneimang alias Sanahal, Pukhalam alias Niuroad and Biaklian alias Biaka, were beaten to death after being abducted by rival cadres of the KNA at Sielmat in the Churachandpur district.

The ZRF in a statement claimed its involvement in the killing of three ZRA cadres, in association with the KNA at Sielmat. The outfit alleged that the ZRA cadres were involved in the killing of V. Hanglunthang, 'general secretary' of ZRF, on September 29, 2005.

August 20: Two civilians are killed, while four others sustained injuries when a group of ZRA cadres opened fire towards a crowded church targeting a patrol party of the Assam Rifles at Vengnuom in the Churachandpur district.

July 12: An exchange of fire between rival cadres of ZRA and United Socialist Revolutionary Army (USRA) take place at Lamka in the Churachandpur district.

July 10: An exchange of fire takes place between the rival cadres of ZRA and USRA at a spot between Phailen and New Lamka in the Churachandpur district.

June 29: ZRA kills a youth, Ginpithang Kipgen, at a place between Nengthal and Ngathan in the Churachandpur district.

June 27: One UNLF cadre, T. Naobi, is arrested from Tera Amudon Leikai in the Imphal city.

June 23: A ZRA cadre, Pauminlun, is killed during an encounter with the security forces at Lailam Veng in the Churachandpur district. One AK-47 rifle with nine live rounds of ammunition is recovered from the encounter site.

February 19: United Socialist Revolutionary Army accuses ZRA of showing disregard and contempt to the Vaiphei tribe and reportedly asks them not to take part in the coming Zomi Namni celebration. The outfit says: "As our tribe identity has been challenged, USRA believes the Vaipheis need not submerge themselves in the so called community 'Zomi."

January 31: The six-month cease-fire agreement earlier concluded between the Army authorities and eight militant outfits, including the KNO, KNA, KNF-Z, KNF-MC, KLO, KLA, ZRA and ZRO expires.

2005

September 19: One ZRA and six ZRF cadres are killed in an internecine clash at Loibual village in the Churachandpur district. A girl suffered a stray bullet injury in the clash. The ZRA cadres also decamped with the weapons of the deceased ZRF cadres.

September 1: Central Reserve Police Force claims that a vehicle recovered from the ZRA cadres at IB Road in the Churachandpur district on August 29 belongs to a son of the chairman of the Manipur Assembly’s hill areas committee, identified as Songchinkhup, who has admitted that the vehicle belongs to his son Tual Minthang and has been taken away at gunpoint by some militants a few days ago.

August 29: Six ZRA cadres were arrested along with a consignment of arms and ammunition by a Central Reserve Police Force patrol party at IB Road in Churachandpur. A vehicle belonging to the son of a Congress party leader in the State, in which they were travelling, was also seized.

August 20: Suspected ZRA cadres kill a civilian, identified as Khaikholien, at Bungpi village under Thanlon police station in the Churachandpur district.

August 9: ZRA announces a six-month long cease-fire with the security forces with effect from August 1.

June 9: A civilian is killed and three others sustain injuries after being caught in the crossfire during a clash between ZRA and Zomi Revolutionary Force cadres in the Sumtuh and Mualpheng areas of Churachandpur district.

June 9: The police arrest a ZRA female sympathiser, identified as Niyangmuan Kim, from Lamka in the Churachandpur district. 62 live bullets of AK-47 rifles, six receipt books of the outfit along with a sum of Rupees 72,900 was recovered from her possession.

April 19: Suspected ZRA cadres kill Jamkhothang alias Thang-boi alias Joy Vaiphei, 'operational commander' of the United Socialist Revolutionary Army, a breakaway faction of the ZRA, at Rengkai in the Chandel district.

January 13: ZRA cadres kill two of their former colleagues who had deserted the outfit at an undisclosed place in Manipur.
2004
December 26: ZRA terrorists kill a civilian at Ngathal village in the Churachandpur district for alleged ‘anti-ZRA activities’.

December 16: ZRA cadres kill a former president of the All Tribal Students Union-Manipur, identified as E. Vungkholian Paite, and another person at Lamphelpat in the Imphal city for "conspiring against the outfit".

July 1: The ZRA, in a statement issued by its ‘commandant 201 battalion’ T. Romeo, denies involvement in extortion in Mizoram’s Champhai town near Myanmar border. Further, it alleged that the extortionists were from ‘Zothon faction’ "a bunch of gangsters having their base in Champhai who have come together without the knowledge of ZRO."

June 1: Bishnupur police commandos arrest nine ZRA insurgents, including the outfit’s ‘town commander’, from Bengnom New Lamka in the Churachandpur district.

June 1: Three ZRA cadres are arrested from a passenger bus at Kha Potshangbam in the Bishenpur district.

May 29: Security personnel belonging to 19 Garhwal Rifles arrest one ZRA cadre, identified as Tulianthang Baite of Bungmual village, from his residence in the Churachandpur district.

May 9: Security force personnel kill a ZRA cadre, identified as Liankhosin, at New Bazaar in the Churachandpur district.

April 8: The ZRA and Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) terrorists sign a ‘peace truce’ during a meeting held at the residence of L B Sona, ‘chairman’ Zomi Council, to settle the misunderstanding between the two groups.

March 31: ZRA militants kill two HPC-D cadres and a civilian at Rengkai village in the Churachandpur district.

March 28: Three ZRA cadres are killed in a fresh spurt of internecine killings with Hmar People’s Convention–Democracy (HPC-D) group at Rengkai village in the Churachandpur district.

2003

November 14: Eight armed ZRA cadres are arrested from the Mizoram-Myanmar border town of Champhai. One 9mm pistol, one US made M-16 assault rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition were recovered from their possession.

June 13: The ZRA claims that a Government vehicle bearing registration number MN-01-G-0068, belonging to the electricity department, had been provided by Power Minister T Phungzathang, hailing from Churachandpur, along with a sum of Rs. 2.6 lakhs, to a ‘captain’ of the ZRA without the knowledge of the organisation.

February 16: ZRA cadres shot at and wounded a person, namely Thangkhanlian Paite, in the New Lamka area. Reports claimed it was in retaliation to extortion of money from the public in the name of the outfit.

January 5: Boder Security Force personnel arrest two ZRA terrorists from Churachandpur district. One 9 mm pistol, six live rounds of cartridges and one magazine are recovered from their possession.

2002

December 17: ZRO and Kuki Liberation Organisation (KLO) sign a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ for providing full co-operation between these two groups in all spheres with the objective of strengthening the blood ties and as a step towards unification and confederation of all Kuki-Chin-Mizo-Zomi group of people in South Asia.

September 7: A ZRA cadre, hailing from Lalhenkha village of Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East district, surrenders to the Border Security Force (BSF) at Kwakta in the Bishnupur district of Manipur.

June 1: ZRA terrorists kill six People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) cadres during a shootout at Kaimunnon village in the Churachandpur district.

March 13: Four ZRA terrorists are killed in an encounter with the Assam Rifles personnel at Thanlon village in the Churachandpur district.

2001

August 27: Three terrorists were killed in an encounter between two rival groups at Tokvum village in the Churachandpur district. One group suspected to be the ZRA attempted to intercept another consisting of Kuki National Front (KNF) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF). While the first two are reported to belong to ZRA, the third deceased was a member of the KNF.

The White Man's Burden, by Rudyard Kipling
This was Kipling's response to the American takeover of the Phillipines in 1899.

"Take up the White Man's burden--

Send forth the best ye breed--

Go bind your sons to exile

To serve your captives' need;





To wait in heavy harness,

On fluttered folk and wild--

Your new-caught, sullen peoples,

Half-devil and half-child.




To wait in heavy harness,

On fluttered folk and wild--

Your new-caught, sullen peoples,

Half-devil and half-child.





Take up the White Man's burden--

The savage wars of peace--

Fill full the mouth of Famine

And bid the sickness cease;


And when your goal is nearest

The end for others sought,

Watch sloth and heathen Folly

Bring all your hopes to nought.




Take up the White Man's burden--

No tawdry rule of kings,

But toil of serf and sweeper--

The tale of common things.


The ports ye shall not enter,

The roads ye shall not tread,

Go mark them with your living,

And mark them with your dead.





Take up the White Man's burden--

And reap his old reward:

The blame of those ye better,

The hate of those ye guard--





The cry of hosts ye humour

(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--

"Why brought he us from bondage,

Our loved Egyptian night?"





The cry of hosts ye humour

(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--

"Why brought he us from bondage,

Our loved Egyptian night?"





By all ye cry or whisper,

By all ye leave or do,

The silent, sullen peoples

Shall weigh your gods and you.





Take up the White Man's burden--

Have done with childish days--

The lightly proferred laurel,

The easy, ungrudged praise.





Comes now, to search your manhood

Through all the thankless years

Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,

The judgment of your peers!



~ mailam awl in.......
(Comment tam pia pen2 "LOMMAN" Kipia ding hi)

ZRA-PLA kikaptuahna ah PLA 3 si, tamtak liam

ZRA galkapte le PLA galkapte Kikaptuahna Thu:
13 Jan 2010 ni Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) salpha-60 te Aisih le Phaisat khua kikal aom Meitei singnuaimite camp abuluh dingin operation lut uhi.
People Liberation Army (PLA) kici meitei singnuaimi sung pan athahat pen le akum tak pen Meitei singnuaimite hi uhi. RA te buluh ding thei khol uh ahimanin Meiteite na kihem khia man in, RA te ciahkikna lampi ah 5 PM hun in PLA te in na pangkik uh ahimanin Phaisat khua gei mualdung ah nasiatak in kikap phial uhi. RA lam pan galmai pen (point) ah pai masa Taang Thang Za Muan @ Mark, Go Chin Khup Veng, New Lamka le point 2 na ah pai Taang Thang Min Lun@ Tiger, Tiger of Sanggaikot te in Zogam le Zomi adingin anuntak uh piakhia uhi. PLA te lam pan in zong mi thumte tua mun ah RA te kap paih in si pah uhi. Tua ban ah PLA lam pan tampi mah liam le bai in taikek mang uh in, 16 Jan 2010 ni zingsang in Meiteite 2 Cikha zato ah si in aliam abai zong tampi tak om lai hi cih thu kiza hi.

Hih akikap ni mahin India gam Interior Ministry pan Under Secretary GK Pillai le SPDC te Interior Ministry pan Deputy Minister Brigadier Phon Shwe te kimu khawm in gamgi bulphu in Northeast ah om singnuaimite vai, Kawlgam sungah om singnuaimite vai le guih theih kham theih vankham nasepna omte tawh kisai thu piang teng kikup ding in akhen sat ni hi citciat hi.

Mr. GK Pillai pen 19 -21 January,2010 sung Nyaypidaw ah zin ding hi. 2009 kum February kha sung in zong India Vice President a Kawlgam hong zin laitak in RA le Meitei te kikap uh in Meiteite 2 si-in khat nak liam mahmah ngei hi.

PLA makai N. Bisheswar Singh in ‘ Kamhau gam, kokhut sung tungta’ cih Metei lai tawh akihawm Meitei Media khat ah gen khin hi. PLA pen Septenber 25.1978 kum pan akipan hiin, Zogam sung ah PLA galkap 90% om khin uhi, Zogam sungah PLA te cin sa Zavom Acre 2,000 val phata ding in kilam en hi.

RA te operation lut ding apaina thu uh Meiteite tungah thu anapuak ahi Aisih khua pan minam zuak Zomi nih le thum om ahimanin Meiteite atai man uhi. Sum le pai deihluatna hangin minam hong zuak ahi Meitei te khutzat te tawh kisai mai lam ah nakpi tak in thu kinei ding hi. Cikha, Tonzang, Tedim, Kawlpi, Tamu, Sialthozang, Aisih, Suanghoih le Meiteite om na te ah Zomi hong zuak mite a thu uh ki kankan khin le akicing in ki thei khin hi cih thu le tua mite akikhel kei uh leh ki siangsuah ding hi.

Sikai Division, Mandalay Division, Rakhine state le Zogam ah Meitei singnuai mi pawl 6 bang om khin uhi. Meitei te in phualpi in aneih uh ahi Zogam sungteng ah suak tatak in om theihna, Zogam ah Zovom suak tatak in hong cin theihna apia UItalte le Meiteite Zogam sung pan ii hawlkhiat zawh kei leh ‘Ei Pu, EiPa te kha in khangthak Zomi te hong awilo dingin thupha kingah lo ding hi. Tua ahimanin ei Pu ei Pa gam pan aman lang thei penpen in PLA@ Meitei galkap te le adang Meitei singnuai miteng ii hawl khiat ding kisam ta hi.

-Information Department
Zomi Student’s and Youth Organization- Eastern Region
Thai- Burma Border
[Source: SSPPNet]

THE ONE

The night’s dawning now, baby,
As I watch you sleep beside me,
And then I say my prayers for you,
Knowing that we’ll see things through.

There’s so much that I want right now,
So much that I wish for somehow.
But you’ll never hear me say these things,
But then again you already know my feelings.

I want to be the one who holds your hand
When things are rough, and it’s hard to stand.
I want to be the one who’s with you
When all your dreams start coming true.

I want to be the one who’s with you each night,
The one who makes the wrong things right,
The one who takes away all your fears,
The one who will wipe away your tears.

I want to be the one you dream about,
The one you just couldn’t do without,
The one who will always be with you,
The one who will never make you feel blue.

I want to be the one who will always care,
The one who will always be there,
The one who wears your wedding ring,
Your one and only, your everything.

I want to be the right one for you,
The one who can see you through,
And baby, if it ever happens that we’re apart,
I want to be the one who’s holding your heart.


~Rbngaihte

REVISITED

It’s been so long since I last felt like this.
You put both my heart and my soul at ease.
I have forgotten what loving felt like;
I have stopped hoping that lightning might strike
But you came in, and you changed everything.
You gave life and love a whole new meaning.

You’re the ray of hope when the world is bleak;
You give me strength when my spirit is weak
You’re the beacon of light in the darkness;
You chase away all of this world’s sadness
You are the laughter when the whole world cries.
You are the truth that uncovers all lies.

There is nothing in this world that will be
As dear to anyone as you are to me
There is nothing on earth I would not do
In the name of the love I feel for you
Because back then when the stars did not shine,
You came and gave me love I could call mine.

You’re the sun when the day is bright;
You’re the moon that shines in the night
You’re all the things I could ever hope for.
You’re every wish I could ever wish for
And when everything is done and the world is through,
All that will be left is the love I have for you.