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THE BELLS OF FALAM: UPDATE ON REVOLUTION IN CHIN STATE, 2024 Project Maje
CONTENTS
Introduction Click on photos to expand. This report, "The Bells of Falam: Update on Revolution in Chin State, 2024" is an update on the situation in Chin State since Project Maje's January 2024 report, "The View from Mt. Kennedy: An Update on Revolution in Chin State," January 2023 report "Under the Hornbill Flag: Chin State Resistance Continues" and October 2021 report "Hornbills and Powder Horns: Chin State Resists." Those previous reports contain extensive background information on the revolution in a mountainous region of western Burma (Myanmar.) This report includes links to news articles and reports from February 2023 through January 2024 about the revolution in Chin State and related issues. The report title is a reference to the church bells that would ring out in Falam, a mountain town in Chin State that was nearly in control of revolutionary anti-coup forces by Christmas, 2024.
The revolutionary forces of Chin State made impressive advances against the Myanmar coup regime in 2024, increasing areas of control to cover the vast majority of the state. Cooperation between the armed groups hit a low point, however, devolving into open conflict early in the year and was still fraught by the year's end.
Building on successful operations in 2024, Chin State revolutionary forces took major towns across the state during 2025. Chinland Council (Chin National Army with allied forces) launched Operation Jericho and had consolidated control of Thantlang and the Timit Plain (strategic gateway to Hakha) by the end of 2024. Chin National Defence Force with allies gained control of the major town Falam (north-central Chin State) except for an adjacent regime base by late December. For a detailed first hand account of their siege of the regime's Falam base, see Frontier's "What's Happening in Myanmar" February 7, 2025 podcast interview with journalist Lorcan Lovett, Panic for Fuel and Fighting for Falam. Tedim in the north and the central state capital Hakha were the State's only sizeable towns still under complete regime control by 2024's end.
In the south of Chin State, bordering Rakhine State, the Arakan (Arakha) Army siezed important Paletwa town from the coup regime in January 2024. Chin Brotherhood (allied with AA) took Matupi mid-2024 and Mindat by late December. Mindat has been particularly significant as one of the first locations of armed resistance to the Feb. 2021 Burma (Myanmar) coup. Chin Brotherhood consolidated its control in the south with an ouster of regime troops from Kanpetlet in late December.
Inter-Group Conflict Continued Political tensions between Chinland Council and Chin Brotherhood (Chinland Defense Force groups rejecting the oversight of Chinland Council) deteriorated further, leading to actual armed conflict between some fighters of those groups during 2024. For background on the political basis of the schism within Chin State's revolutionary forces, see the previous Project Maje report The View from Mt. Kennedy (2023 update.) During late January — early February 2024, territorial fighting flared up in southern Chin State between Chinland Council forces (including Chinland Defense Force — Mara) and Maraland Defense Force, a Chin Brotherhood Alliance group. One of the combatants was killed. Also in the state's south a clash between Chinland Council and Chin Brotherhood fighters occurred in June, with two killed (in the midst of both of those forces attacking coup regime troops in Matupi.) This was blamed on miscommunication as well as misguided factionalism. By September 2024, Chinland Council and Interim Chin National Consultative Council affiliated groups (Chin Brotherhood) had participated in mediation and announced that they would make efforts to prevent further counterproductive inter-resistance conflict. But by year's end, territorial tensions emerged again over the resistance-targeted town of Tedim.
Consolidated Control In the south of Chin State, the Chin Brotherhood Alliance groups exemplify local revolutionary action in what might otherwise be seen as an intrusion by their ally, the formidable Arakan (Arakha) Army, which is now in control of nearly all of Rakhine State. Arakan (Arakha) Army has abused local civilians of southern Chin State in numerous incidents pre-2024. This harmful pattern continued in 2024 with incidents including AA's detention/arrests of dozens of civilians in Paletwa (a southern Chin State town taken from the regime by AA in January 2024) over their ties to Chin revolutionary groups. Having consolidated control in almost all of Chin State by the end of 2024, revolutionary forces from Chin State may become more active in neighboring Sagaing and Magway Regions. The Chin State forces have strong alliances and considerable operating capability across state/region borders.
In the Air, On the Ground Aside from serious political disunity manifesting as jockeying for territorial power, the main factor hampering the revolution in Chin State has been chronic shortages of arms and ammunition. This has been remedied somewhat in 2024 with captured enemy supplies as the revolution took over regime bases. The coup regime's only reliable strategy during 2024 in Chin State (and elsewhere) was continuous airstrikes, routinely deployed against civilian targets. Chin Human Right Organization documented 57 airstrikes by the coup regime against Chin State during 2024, with 116 civilians killed and 242 civilians injured, as well as 412 civilian buildings destroyed or damaged.
Outside aid, including US Burma Bill assistance, has been very slow to reach Chin State, which lacks early warning aircraft detector systems for coup regime air raids. Additionally, in January 2025 the new Administration in the United States suddenly suspended foreign aid programs, including those which were assisting civilians of Chin State and abruptly stopped Chin State refugees who had already been approved for asylum from flying to the US from Malaysia and India. The Northeast India state of Mizoram has continued to provide a crucial refuge for thousands of civilians who have fled Chin State. Against the state government's wishes, India began to restrict its border with Burma (Myanmar) in Mizoram and other Northeast India states. (Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh.) This would affect the ethnically-related people of Mizoram and Chin State, who had previously had official "free movement" of 16 km on either side of the border. In contrast to Mizoram, Manipur state authorities have imprisoned people seeking refuge from Myanmar and handed groups of them over to the Myanmar coup regime in 2024 to early 2025 (refugee refoulement.) At the national government level, India continued supportive diplomatic and military relations with the Myanmar coup regime.
Civil society groups and individuals from Chin State continued their international advocacy and diplomatic efforts, as well as strengthening civil society in the increasing areas of revolutionary control. As in 2024, a food security crisis was averted in impoverished and war-torn Chin State through revolutionary control of rural areas, alternative crops and imports. But serious vulnerabilities in food supply, nutrition and health care access persist.
The Way Forward Looking ahead at 2025, it is imperative that Chin State's revolutionary alliances avoid violent conflict with each other. Their significant political differences can be deferred to be resolved after the coup regime is defeated and their territorial frictions can be addressed through negotiation. Without the distraction of competing revolutionary forces, coordinated efforts to remove the Myanmar coup regime's remaining control of Hakha and Tedim can succeed and could actually build unity among regional forces. As the Chin State capital, Hakha is the ultimate prize to be taken for either of Chin State's anti-regime alliances. Treating a campaign there as a joint effort, rather than a competition, would be the most effective approach.
Victory through unity can ease the way for battle-seasoned forces from Chin State to move against the Myanmar coup regime's arms factories and command centers outside of Chin State. The fighters of Chin State were among the originators of the revolutionary movement and should be part of the final phase of the nationwide struggle. In the south of Chin State, local revolutionary organizations and township administrations will need to find a balance in alliances with Arakan (Arakha) Army, which although extraordinarily effective militarily, has a record of abuse of peoples not of AA's Rakhine ethnic group. All of Chin State needs civilian governance based on equal rights, not just military power. At this pivotal time in the nationwide struggle to end the Myanmar coup regime, international aid for Chin State civilians, internally displaced persons and refugees must be pursued with determination and creativity. More support is urgently needed — certainly not an ill-thought-out and precipitous reduction of the minimal amounts previously allocated by "concerned" countries.
Note: Project Maje is an independent information project on Burma's human rights and environmental issues, founded by Edith Mirante in 1986. Project Maje does not endorse the contents of news articles linked in this report. Previous Project Maje reports regarding Chin State include: As always, thanks to Bruce for this website.
January 2024 These are in the previous Project Maje report The View from Mt. Kennedy February 2024 'Blood and sweat': Myanmar resistance fights to overturn military coup Chin State's Health Education and Economy Hits Rock Bottom 3 Years After Coup Fighting intensifies between Chin revolutionary forces in Chin's Maraland The Chin State's Military-Political Dynamics: Challenges and Opportunities Indians living along the border with strife-torn Myanmar protest restrictions on movement March 2024 AA assumes Security Role for Indian Delegation Visit to Paletwa Arakan Army to launch public administration in Paletwa Township, Chin State Chin State resistance force detains local administrative staff for involvement in junta conscription efforts April 2024 Myanmar Junta's Free Rein in Mindat Ends as Chin Defense Force Resumes Battle 'Separated': Why is India sealing its Myanmar border, dividing families? Myanmar junta imposes curbs on religious activities [in Hakha] May 2024 Rebel Chin forces in Myanmar capture town on Indian border "Now, during the revolution..." Interview with Dr. Sharon Par, Anti-junta forces seize, attack Chin State towns in coordinated campaign June 2024 Operation Chin Brotherhood Sees Swift Success Against Myanmar Junta Troops Chin Brotherhood Alliance Operation expects Matupi to become Junta-free area Two Fighters Killed as Rival Myanmar Resistance Groups Clash in Chin State Government of Chinland Forces Capture Three Junta Camps Between Hakha and Thantlang, Ongoing Attack on Fourth Indian Blockade Isolates Myanmar's Rakhine, Pressures Arakan Army to Leave Chin State July 2024 Chin Forces Seize Matupi, Advance on Myanmar Junta Ordnance Factories Chin armed group detains two Yaw Defence Force members Lailenpi Under MDF Control Amid Tension Between Mara Armed Forces The effects on the Chin people after more than 3 years of the Spring Revolution Chin Coalition Ramps Up Offensive to Capture Auto Hill-Based Military Camp Near Hakha August 2024 'Two lions in a cave': Revolutionary divisions in Chin State September 2024 The Revolution in Myanmar Chin anti-junta groups in northwest Myanmar agree to end mutual hostilities October 2024 Rakhine ethnic armed group detains Khumi resistance members in northwest Myanmar Myanmar junta torching houses in increasing numbers in Chin State's Mindat Township Arakan Army detains doctor, two others, in western Myanmar's Paletwa Township Nearly 30 locals in Paletwa detained by AA for allegedly supporting Chin resistance forces Myanmar junta, Chin resistance forces engage in fierce clashes near Chin State capital Frontier, by Ivan Oglivie, October 24, 2024 https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/plains-of-war-into-the-kalay-fray/ Rebuilding Lives Major Captured, 15 Killed as Myanmar Junta Outpost Falls in Chin State: CDF November 2024 Trouble Among the Chin of Myanmar Residents evacuate Chin State town amid clashes, shelling Three Years of Atrocities in Myanmar's Chin State Fighting Flares as Chin Rebels Launch Fresh Offensive Junta Stops All Official Fuel Supplies to Chin State Chin State's revolutionary journey during the 3 years of the Spring Revolution, Regime conducts deadly airstrike in Chin State as battles with anti-junta alliance drag on December 2024 Insurgents in Myanmar's Chin state capture four military camps, group says Chinland Council's Op. Jericho Seizes Four Myanmar Junta Outposts Four Junta Bases Between Hakha and Thantlang Towns Captured Chin Forces Capture Strategic Myanmar Plain Between Hakha and Thantlang Chin resistance forces capture key road to Chin State capital Hakha Air raid on village near Chin State capital kills four Anti-junta forces take control of southern Chin State's Mindat town Scores of Myanmar Junta Troops Surrender in Chin Rebel Offensive Ethnic rebels claim to control up to 85% of Myanmar's Chin state Anti-junta forces say they now control most of southern Chin State Southern Chin State Liberated from Myanmar Junta Chin Brotherhood Alliance, in partnership with AA, Outwits Opponents in Chin State Mission Why India needs to heed the dramatic churning in western Myanmar Chin Brotherhood claims major territorial gains in first year of its offensive across Chinland January 2025 The Chin Resistance - Part 1 India Hands 26 Migrants to Myanmar Junta Time to Act: Enforcing the Burma Act is a matter of life and death Myanmar Junta Grip on Chin State Hangs by Thread Rival Chin factions dispute over plans to seize Tedim Township in northern Chinland from regime control Chin resistance leader among five arrested in India for alleged gun-running Myanmar junta's grip weakening in Chin State Chin refugees in Malaysia trapped after Trump executive order
Western Allies Urged to Fill Aid Gap for Myanmar: Urgent Humanitarian and Human Rights Support Needed 'They plucked out his eye with a motorbike key — I wanted to kill them' 'America first' in action: Trump's aid freeze erodes an already anemic response to Myanmar crisis Myanmar Refugees Stranded in Delhi After US Bans Refugees
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