Chin resistance denies Min Aung Hlaing claims of peace talks, exposing ‘divide and rule’ tactics

Members of the Chin resistance dismissed regime leader Min Aung Hlaing after he referenced the Chin National Organization and its armed wing, the Chin National Defence Force, as a “dialogue partner” in peace talks during his speech to Myanmar’s parliament on Friday. A politician in Chin State told DVB on the condition of anonymity that Min Aung Hlaing mentioned one specific armed group as a “tactic” to divide the Chin resistance. The Chin National Organization—formed on April 13, 2021—is a member of the Chin Brotherhood, established on Dec. 30, 2023 as the armed wing of the Interim Chin National Consultative Council (ICNCC)—a civilian-led political body established after the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021. Besides the Chin National Organization, the Chin Brotherhood includes the Zomi Federal Union, along with its armed wing the People’s Defence Force, as well as the Chin National Council and its armed wing the Chinland Defence Force – Mindat. The July 31 speech to Myanmar’s Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, or bicameral legislature, is the first reported instance of Min Aung Hlaing mentioning the name of a specific resistance group established in response to the 2021 coup. As regime leader, Min Aung Hlaing has mentioned several longstanding ethnic armed groups, including the Karen ​National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF), and the All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), in his public speeches since he seized power during the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) administration. The Chin National Organization spokesperson, Timmy Htut, stated on his personal Facebook account on July 31 that the resistance group is not engaging in any dialogue with the regime and will “soon” issue a public statement clarifying this position. The Chin Brotherhood spokesperson, Yaw Mang, also shared on his personal Facebook account on Aug. 1 that the resistance coalition would not accept any peace that would “enslave” the ethnic Chin people. DVB contacted the Chin Brotherhood for comment but received no response. It has seized control of Kanpetlet, Mindat, Matupi and Falam towns since 2024. But it lost control of Falam to regime forces on April 25. The Arakan Army (AA) seized control of Paletwa Township in southern Chin State in January 2024 after launching its Arakan State offensive, where it has seized control of 14 out of 17 townships since November 2023. The regime now controls Chin’s Thantlang, Tonzang and Falam towns. The three are located 22-144 miles (35-231 km) west and north of the Chin State capital Hakha, which is under regime control. Tedim, 117 miles (188 km) north of Hakha, is contested between the regime and Chin resistance forces. Besides the Chin Brotherhood, the other faction of the Chin resistance is the Chinland Council, which is led by the Chin National Front (CNF)—established in 1988. Its armed wing, the Chin National Army (CNA), withdrew from the ICNCC in late 2023 due to internal disputes. The two factions of the Chin resistance have since engaged in unification talks, although no formal progress has been announced publicly since Feb. 26, 2025.