Internal Divisions Delay Adoption of Chin State Draft Constitution, Mizoram Chief Minister Says

Efforts to unify resistance forces in Myanmar’s Chin State under a single governing structure have hit a stalemate due to persistent internal disputes, according to Pu Lalduhoma, the Chief Minister of India's Mizoram State. Speaking at the Joint Hnampual Meet 2026 in Aizawl on July 25, Lalduhoma revealed that the Mizoram government has been actively facilitating talks to help Chin resistance factions establish a unified civilian and military administration. However, disagreement among stakeholders has repeatedly derailed final approval of the draft constitution. "Since our government took office in Mizoram, we have worked tirelessly to foster unity among resistance organizations in Chin State," Lalduhoma said. "We drafted a constitution to integrate civilian and military sectors under a single authority. Yet, every time we reach the verge of signing, disputes erupt among the factions, stalling the entire process. This has become a major obstacle to our peace efforts." The Chief Minister warned that failing to form a united front against Myanmar's military junta poses severe security risks, cautioning that territories along the India-Myanmar border could fall back under junta control. Lalduhoma also highlighted the lack of a shared indigenous language as a major structural barrier to Chin solidarity, noting the widespread reliance on the Burmese (Myanmar) language for cross-group communication. "Language is crucial for building unity," he noted. "In Chin State, Bamar is widely used as the lingua franca. Relying on the language of another ethnic group in your own region carries long-term cultural and political consequences. Without agreeing on a common language, building genuine relationships and cohesion will remain elusive." Chin resistance sources concurred with the Chief Minister's assessment, attributing the prolonged delays in ratifying the constitution to a fundamental lack of mutual trust among revolutionary factions.