Narinjara News, 6 September 2024

Chief minister of Mizoram in northeast Indiaemphasized 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 UnitedStates of America,  made this statement during a meeting with the Chincommunity there, said Chin media outlet Khonumthung.

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

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

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

“Whether it’s the CNF, Chin Brotherhood, ChinlandCouncil, ZRA, AA, or PDFs, they are all fighting for common causes. Ifconflicts 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 somestudents.

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

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

He also noted that the Chin, Mizo and Kuki ethnicgroups 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 indifferent countries namely Myanmar, India and Bangladesh, they hope to one daybe united under a single administration, stated a report by Khonumthung.