On Monday (March 10), in a controversial statement Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma claimed that agents from the United States and the United Kingdom were imparting arms training to insurgent groups in Myanmar.He said that these people are entering Myanmar via Mizoram. Lalduhoma was referring to the case of UK citizen Daniel Newey, who was arrested at Lengpui airport in June last year. Lalduhoma claimed that some of the agents entering Myanmar via Mizoram were involved in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Lalduhoma also claimed that 2000 foreigners visited Aizawl between June and December 2024, but they were not seen on the streets. He hinted that these visitors may be conspiring to interfere in the internal affairs of Myanmar.In September 2024, Lalduhoma met members of the Chin community during an official visit to the United States. Despite being the Chief Minister of a bordering Indian state, he called for the unity of the Zo (Chin-Kuki-Mizo) community spread across Myanmar and Bangladesh on ethnic and religious lines.The development comes amid ethnic tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities in neighbouring Manipur. Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma called upon the Zo people to unite on religious lines and prevent further divisions.The transcript of his speech read, “I would like to take this opportunity to raise the issue and express my apprehension that there is a real danger of our religion becoming a source of disunity and division, instead of leading the flock and turning the Church into a united, strong, and impenetrable fortress that it should be.” He lamented that despite various denominations of Christianity uniting to form a ‘Church of South India’ and a ‘Church of North India,’ the ‘Church of North East India’ could not become a reality.Making a heartfelt appeal to the Zo community to unite in the name of Jesus Christ, Lalduhoma appreciated the ‘Chin Relief Committee of Mizoram’ and the ‘Myanmar Relief Committee of Mizoram’ for taking care of the Kuki-Zo refugees.He said, “There are many revolutionary groups in the Chin Hills. There are even instances where two or three CDFs exist and operate in the same township. We are from the same ethnic group and yet, for some reason, cannot work together. Far from cooperation, we have even shed the blood of our brothers and sisters on many occasions, and this is a shameful, regrettable fact that we as a people have to face and take accountability for.”The Mizoram Chief Minister spoke about various organisations working for different objectives in Manipur. He said, “I am happy to know that steps are being taken towards unity, and I am sure I am speaking on behalf of everyone present here today, and I am eagerly waiting for the outcome of these efforts.”Lalduhoma said the Zo Reunification Organisation (ZORO) is working towards unity and informed that the purpose of his US visit was to create a path of unity for the Pan-Zo community. He also spoke about the establishment of the Chin Unity Forum in July 2018. During his meeting with the Kuki-Zo people, the current chief minister of Mizoram made comments that threatened to undermine India’s sovereignty.Lalduhoma said, “I want to tell everyone here that the main reason for accepting the invitation to visit the United States is for all of us to find a way towards unity. We are one people—brothers and sisters—and we cannot afford to be divided or separated from each other.”He said, “I want us to have the firm belief and confidence that one day, by the power of God who has made us one nation, we will achieve our destiny of nationhood together under one leadership.” Lalduhoma concluded.Talking on this topic siddhant roy , prof. of International Relations at JNU said “While a country may have boundaries, a true nation transcends such boundaries. We have been unjustly divided, forced to live under three different governments in three different countries, and this is something we can never accept.”Such comments are unprecedented for a responsible, elected representative leading a major state in India’s northeast.”
Reporting to True to Life News