Chinland Defense Force

Not to be confused with Chin National Defence Force.

The Chinland Defense Force (Burmese: ချင်းဒေသကာကွယ်ရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့, romanized: Chīn Deithạ Kakweyēi Tathpwẹ, lit. 'Chin Region Defense Army'; abbreviated: CDF) is a rebel group in Myanmar. It was formed in response to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état to protect Chin State from the military junta. The CDF claims that they do not attack the military without cause and that they always issue a warning, such as releasing detainees and refraining from using violence against civilians. If the military does not respond, guerrilla or other action follows. They promise to return their weapons and disband if the revolution is successful.^[5] CDFs are members of CJDC (Chinland Joint Defense Committee). Chinland Joint Defense Committee (CJDC) is formed to serve Chin people's security services and protect an enemy from the illegal Myanmar Army. The total strength of active personnel under the command of CJDC is approximated to be around 15,000. From August to October 2021, it was reported that at least 40 clashes occurred between junta troops and CDF in various townships. CJDC claimed that at least 1,029 Tatmadaw soldiers were killed in the clashes and lost 58 of their own in 2021.^[6]

Chinland Defense Force
ချင်းဒေသကာကွယ်ရေးတပ်ဖွဲ့
Flag of the Chinland Defense Force
Foundation	4 April 2021 (2021-04-04)
Dates of operation	4 April 2021 (2021-04-04) – present
Country	Myanmar
Allegiance	Myanmar
Group(s)	CDF Kanpetlet CDF Mindat CDF Hakha CDF Matupi CDF Paletwa CDF Thantlang CDF Mara CDF Zanniat CDF Zotung CDF Zophei CDF Lautu CDF Senthang CDF Tonzang PDF Zoland CDF Hualngoram CDF (CDM) Siyin CDF KKG CDF Daai CNO/CNDF (Falam) Asho Chin defence force(ACDF)
Active regions	Chinland Magway Region Sagaing Region India-Myanmar border
Ideology	Federalism Democracy Minority rights
Allies	All Burma Students' Democratic Front Arakha Army[1] Chin National Army[2] National Liberation Army People's Defence Force People's Defence Force - Kalay People's Revolution Alliance (Magway)[3] Student Armed Force
Opponents	State opponents:  Myanmar (SAC) Tatmadaw  Myanmar Army North Western Command Myanmar Police Force Pyusawhti militias Non-state opponents: Zomi Revolutionary Army[4]
Battles and wars	Internal conflict in Myanmar Myanmar civil war (2021–present) Clashes in Chin State Battle of Mindat Battle of Thantlang Battle of Timit

History

Following the February 2021 coup in Myanmar, many protests occurred against the new military junta. Coup opponents peacefully protested by banging pots and pans at night and staging online and offline strikes.^[7] The Military Council responded harshly using violence to quell the protests, arresting citizens and torching homes.^[8] Civilian militias began to spring up throughout the country to oppose the coup and to ensure the safety of their own areas. Two ethnic armed organizations operated in Chin State, the Chin National Front's Chin National Army and the Zomi Revolutionary Army. However, the groups were unable to properly reach and safeguard the Chin townships, prompting the formation of the Chinland Defense Force on April 4, 2021.^[5][9]

Chin Infighting

On 31 January, 2024, the CDF-Mara, CDF-Paletwa, CDF-Thantlang, CDF–Zophei, CDF-Lautu, and CDF–Senthang, alongside the Chin National Army (CNA), launched an offensive on Chin Brotherhood Alliance member the Maraland Defence Force after the MDF reportedly killed a CNA soldier and detained several CDF-Mara soldiers.^[10]

Goals

The Chinland Defense Force's stated goals are to protect civilians from the ruling military junta, abolition of the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar, an end to military rule, and the establishment of a federal union.^[5]

Weapons

The Chinland Defense Force has used small arms such as the M-16, AK (Kalashnikov), MA-1 and Tu Mee hunting rifles.^[11][12] International importers bring M-16s and AK-47 rifles into Myanmar.^[13]

References

1. "CDF-Mindat admits receiving military training and arms from Arakan Army". BNI. 28 April 2022. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
2. "Chin National Front Signs Deal with Myanmar's Shadow Govt". The Irrawaddy. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
3. "PRA and CDF join forces attack military production factory in Ngape". Ludunwayoo. 22 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
4. "Paul Lu: ZRO/ZRA Has Abducted And Killed Our CJDC Members". Burma News International. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
5. "Who are the Chinland Defense Force (CDF), Chin Myanmar". www.myanmarspeaks.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
6. Swe, Nyein (28 January 2022). "Resistance fighters in Chin killed 'more than 1,000' junta troops last year". Myanmar Now. Archived from the original on 5 August 2022.
7. "Offline and Online, Protests Are Sweeping Across Asia". thediplomat.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
8. "Myanmar Junta Holds Women and Children Hostage in Sagaing". The Irrawaddy. 22 March 2022. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
9. Kelly, Meg; Mahtani, Shibani; Lee, Joyce Sohyun. "'Burn it all down': How Myanmar's military razed villages to crush a growing resistance". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 23 December 2021.
10. "Fighting intensifies between Chin revolutionary forces in Chin's Maraland". Myanmar Peace Monitor. 3 February 2024.
11. Stranglo, Sebastian (17 May 2021). "Myanmar Seizes Western Town After Heated Battle with Civilian Militia". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023.
12. "'Tumee' rifle is weapon of choice for anti-coup fighters in Myanmar's Chin state". youtube.com. Radio Free Asia. 21 December 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
13. "Taking Aim at the Tatmadaw: The New Armed Resistance to Myanmar's Coup". International Crisis Group. 28 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023.