Bearing the same complaints as ethnic groups in other parts of the country, Chin guerrillas are striking back at military targets.

Chin soldiers, once loyal recruits for the Rangoon government, are stepping up their war of resistance against the govenrment in Chin state on the western border of Burma, say residents and aid workers in and near the area.

Since last year, insurgents from the Chin National Front [CNF] have carried out a series of urban guerrilla attacks against Burmese soldiers.

Some analysts in India have referred to the CNF as "Burma’s IRA."

That would be an overstatement. But a number of terror-like incidents in Chin state last year have created a state of siege for Burmese soldiers stationed in the area.

In February 1996, a bomb planted by CNF rebels exploded at a military intelligence officer’s house in Haka, the capital of Chin state. The target, Col Tint Lwin escaped with injures.

In June, a Thantalang-based military intelligence officer was shot dead by CNF rebels. On Oct 8, a Falam military intelligence officer’s car was wrecked by another CNF-planted bomb.

Four days later a group of soldiers including a battalion commander from Falam regiment 266 and his family were attacked when travelling by car in the district. It was believed that some of them were wounded. According to Chin rebels, the battalion commander was hit by a bullet.

Foreign secretary of the CNF, Dr Sui Khar, 35, said since the group launched its attacks in Haka and Falang cities the Burmese soldiers have been afraid to leave the townships.

But the Burmese army is not taking the attacks passively.

The ruling Slorc introduced new strict regulations controlling movement of people in Chin state.

And local Slorc commanders have been pressuring influential Chin pastors to persuade the CNF rebels to return to the "legal fold."

Last year the pastors established a peace negotiating committee led by Rev Sang Awi. But according to Sui Khar, a Rev David Van Bile was arrested on charges of having contacts with the CNF.

Villagers accused of being ‘supporters’ of the CNF have also been taken into prison.

Though Chin rebels are asking for self-determination and equality in Chin state Sui Khar said, "We want genuine peace and political settlement. We fully support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the democracy movement."

The CNF was established shortly after the military regime staged its bloody coup in 1988.

Until 1992, it was led by president John No Than Kap. Later he fled to India where he was arrested. It was believed that he was sent back to Burma and surrendered to Burma’s authorities.

In 1989, Chin rebels received their first arms training at the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organisation. About 70 rebels were sent to Pa Jau in 1989 and came back to Chin State in 1991. The overland trip took a year.

"We were empty-handed in 1988," says Shui Khar.

"From 1988 to 1995 it was a preparation period," says Sui Khar who graduated from Yezin University in Pyinmana. "We have no weapons and no money. Only moral support."

In one case, Sui Khar and his fellow Chin rebels robbed weapons from Slorc soldiers.

"We were disguised as traders and were asked to meet six Slorc soldiers who wanted money from us. We asked them to come to a village where we had a little chit-chat and we robbed their weapons and ran."

The CNF held its first party congress in 1993. Roger was elected president.

The CNF began preparations for its urban guerrilla campaign and began looking for more weapons. But in 1994 Roger resigned for health reasons and the following year Thomas Tang No became president and the Chin rebels launched guerrilla warfare in Chin state last year.

Sui Khar and his fellow Chin rebels didn’t reveal their plans for 1997. But apparently, they are preparing to launch more attacks on urban areas in Chin state.

Sui Khar said that ultimately the only answer to their differences with the central govenrment will be found through talks.

"If we want to see a genuine peace in Burma we need a political dialogue."

Aid agencies based in India say that thousands of Chin refugees poured into India’s Mizoran state and Bangladesh recently with stories of forced labour and religious persecution.

According to the accounts, the Chins have suffered from the same kinds of human rights abuses, food shortages and poor health as other ethnic groups in Karen, Mon and Shan states.

One NGO worker said: "This situation has obviously frustrated many Chins and may explain the recent increase in the number of Chins taking up arms against the regime."

This is significant as the Chins have traditionally provided a reliable source of recruits to the Burma’s army and been active in anti-guerrilla warfare.

"Due to the endemic corruption, incompetence and abuses of Slorc officials, many local Chins say the health and living conditions in Chin sate are worse today than 50 years ago," the Burmese Relief Centre's recent report said.

Sui Khar said Chin refugees who have arrived recently complained vigorously about the Slorc’s religious persecution. They charged Slorc with demolishing and destroying Christian monuments and buildings and replacing them with Buddhist structures. In Chin State, about 90% of Chins are Christians.

One instance cited occurred in 1995 when Slorc soldiers knocked down the Johnson Memorial Cross on the Rung Tlang hill near Haka, and replaced it with a pagoda. After demolishing a church in Konkailon village, they forced villagers to build a Buddhist temple on the same site.

Since 1995 there have been more than 10 battalions based in Chin state. Sui Khar said Slorc soldiers have been used to accompany many Chins to construction sites.

"Numerous projects in Chin state are carried out by villagers but they receive no Chin soldiers, once loyal recruits
for the Rangoon government, are stepping up their war of resistance against the govenrment in Chin state on the western border of Burma, say residents and aid workers in and near the area.

Since last year, insurgents from the Chin National Front [CNF] have carried out a series of urban guerrilla attacks against Burmese soldiers.

Some analysts in India have referred to the CNF as "Burma’s IRA."

That would be an overstatement. But a number of terror-like incidents in Chin state last year have created a state of siege for Burmese soldiers stationed in the area.

In February 1996, a bomb planted by CNF rebels exploded at a military intelligence officer’s house in Haka, the capital of Chin state. The target, Col Tint Lwin escaped with injures.

In June, a Thantalang-based military intelligence officer was shot dead by CNF rebels. On Oct 8, a Falam military intelligence officer’s car was wrecked by another CNF-planted bomb.

Four days later a group of soldiers including a battalion commander from Falam regiment 266 and his family were attacked when travelling by car in the district. It was believed that some of them were wounded. According to Chin rebels, the battalion commander was hit by a bullet.

Foreign secretary of the CNF, Dr Sui Khar, 35, said since the group launched its attacks in Haka and Falang cities the Burmese soldiers have been afraid to leave the townships.

But the Burmese army is not taking the attacks passively.

The ruling Slorc introduced new strict regulations controlling movement of people in Chin state.

And local Slorc commanders have been pressuring influential Chin pastors to persuade the CNF rebels to return to the "legal fold."

Last year the pastors established a peace negotiating committee led by Rev Sang Awi. But according to Sui Khar, a Rev David Van Bile was arrested on charges of having contacts with the CNF.

Villagers accused of being ‘supporters’ of the CNF have also been taken into prison.

Though Chin rebels are asking for self-determination and equality in Chin state Sui Khar said, "We want genuine peace and political settlement. We fully support Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the democracy movement."

The CNF was established shortly after the military regime staged its bloody coup in 1988.

Until 1992, it was led by president John No Than Kap. Later he fled to India where he was arrested. It was believed that he was sent back to Burma and surrendered to Burma’s authorities.

In 1989, Chin rebels received their first arms training at the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Organisation. About 70 rebels were sent to Pa Jau in 1989 and came back to Chin State in 1991. The overland trip took a year.

"We were empty-handed in 1988," says Shui Khar.

"From 1988 to 1995 it was a preparation period," says Sui Khar who graduated from Yezin University in Pyinmana. "We have no weapons and no money. Only moral support."

In one case, Sui Khar and his fellow Chin rebels robbed weapons from Slorc soldiers.

"We were disguised as traders and were asked to meet six Slorc soldiers who wanted money from us. We asked them to come to a village where we had a little chit-chat and we robbed their weapons and ran."

The CNF held its first party congress in 1993. Roger was elected president.

The CNF began preparations for its urban guerrilla campaign and began looking for more weapons. But in 1994 Roger resigned for health reasons and the following year Thomas Tang No became president and the Chin rebels launched guerrilla warfare in Chin state last year.

Sui Khar and his fellow Chin rebels didn’t reveal their plans for 1997. But apparently, they are preparing to launch more attacks on urban areas in Chin state.

Sui Khar said that ultimately the only answer to their differences with the central govenrment will be found through talks.

"If we want to see a genuine peace in Burma we need a political dialogue."

Aid agencies based in India say that thousands of Chin refugees poured into India’s Mizoran state and Bangladesh recently with stories of forced labour and religious persecution.

According to the accounts, the Chins have suffered from the same kinds of human rights abuses, food shortages and poor health as other ethnic groups in Karen, Mon and Shan states.

One NGO worker said: "This situation has obviously frustrated many Chins and may explain the recent increase in the number of Chins taking up arms against the regime."

This is significant as the Chins have traditionally provided a reliable source of recruits to the Burma’s army and been active in anti-guerrilla warfare.

"Due to the endemic corruption, incompetence and abuses of Slorc officials, many local Chins say the health and living conditions in Chin sate are worse today than 50 years ago," the Burmese Relief Centre's recent report said.

Sui Khar said Chin refugees who have arrived recently complained vigorously about the Slorc’s religious persecution. They charged Slorc with demolishing and destroying Christian monuments and buildings and replacing them with Buddhist structures. In Chin State, about 90% of Chins are Christians.

One instance cited occurred in 1995 when Slorc soldiers knocked down the Johnson Memorial Cross on the Rung Tlang hill near Haka, and replaced it with a pagoda. After demolishing a church in Konkailon village, they forced villagers to build a Buddhist temple on the same site.

Since 1995 there have been more than 10 battalions based in Chin state. Sui Khar said Slorc soldiers have been used to accompany many Chins to construction sites.

"Numerous projects in Chin state are carried out by villagers but they receive no pay, but must provide their own food, medicine and tools and even transportation."

An estimated 3,000 Chins currently are also in Bangladesh. But according to the BRC, the reception provided by the Mizo-ran authorities in India are less than welcoming.

The New Delhi-based South Asia Human Rights Documentation reported that in 1994 at least 1,000 refugees, with estimates up to 10,000 were expelled from India.

"These repatriated refugees were received by military personnel, whereupon the deportees were jailed pending hearings before military tribunals... the government of India temporarily discontinued this repatriation program only to re-initiate the deportation of Chin refugees as of 15 June 1995."

The India government also denies the UNHCR access to Mizoran. The BRC spokesman said until recently little attention has been paid to the situation in Chin state.

Persecuted in their own land, the Chins, he said, like many of Burma’s other ethnic minorities are faced with the same choice of accepting Slorc’s hard rule or taking up arms and resisting it.

Reproduced from the Nation.