"We must build friendship and collaborate with AA: Mizoram CM

Narinjara News, 6 September 2024

Chief minister of Mizoram in northeast India emphasized on establishing  a pragmatic friendship with the Arakan Army (AA) and collaborating with them for mutual interest.

Mizoram CM  Pu Lalduhoma, who is in the United States of America,  made this statement during a meeting with the Chin community there, said Chin media outlet Khonumthung.

He spoke about the issue while answering queries from individuals on 4 September at Chin Evangelical Baptist Church in Indiana.

When he was asked about the interaction between the AA and his government in Aizawl regarding the Kaladan multimodal project, the chief minister said, “If we have conflicts with the AA, they are seemingly much more powerful. Instead of fighting, we should seek to be friends with them. We should establish friendships with them.”

He also highlighted that the Chin resistance forces,  AA and  People's Defense Forces (PDFs) are fighting for their shared causes. Conflicts among these groups would only benefit the military junta.

“Whether it’s the CNF, Chin Brotherhood, Chinland Council, ZRA, AA, or PDFs, they are all fighting for common causes. If conflicts arise among these groups, it will benefit the military junta. Therefore, we must build a friendship with the AA. Otherwise they may  come to Lawngtlai town and cause disturbances,” he added.

Mentionable is that  Lawngtlai, a Mizoram town, recently witnessed a ban on the transportation of goods to Arakan State by some students.

After attending the 31st Mizo Day celebration on 2 September, he met with the Chin people on 4 September in Indiana, where a large number of Chin people stay.

During the meeting, he stressed the need to strengthen the unity of Chin resistance forces and improve cooperation among religious and civil organizations.

He also noted that the Chin, Mizo and Kuki ethnic groups share a close bond through their traditional culture, customs, language, festivals, songs and folk tales, making them inseparable.

Although the Chin, Mizo and Kuki people live in different countries namely Myanmar, India and Bangladesh, they hope to one day be united under a single administration, stated a report by Khonumthung.