1. Background History and Structure
ICNCC was established on April 13th, 2021, by the 2020 elected members of parliament, the Chin National Front (CNF), and National League for Democracy (NLD) as a political party in Chin State. Subsequently, the council included CDM participants, CDM supporters, youth and women as another group member. The objective of the ICNCC is to form a Chin government and lead Chin national politics during the revolutionary period.
The ICNCC is one of the drafters of the Federal Democracy Charter (FDC), which serves as the primary guiding document for the Spring Revolution. According to FDC Part II, Chapter (8), Article (52), the ICNCC is the sole legitimate body responsible for Chin affairs, having authority to build the executive, legislative, and judiciary bodies of Chin State.
Additionally, the ICNCC was instrumental in establishing the National Unity Government (NUG) and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC). As a founding member of the NUG and NUCC, the ICNCC appointed one representative as a minister and another as a deputy minister in the NUG. Furthermore, the ICNCC sent three members to the NUCC and one member to the Transitional Constitution Working Group (TCWG).
On April 4, 2023, the CNF left the ICNCC. After months of gathering data from the ground and Chin people, on December 7th, 2023, the ICNCC initiated the first reform process by adding two more membership groups to the council: township & tribal political leadership groups and defense groups. On February 13th, 2024, the final reform process was completed, resulting in seven membership groups within the ICNCC:
1. Chin Elected Members of Parliament (2020 election)
2. Township and Tribal Political Leadership Groups
3. Defense Groups (the Chin Brotherhood)
4. Chin Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) Members
5. Youth, Women, and Strike Groups
6. Political Parties
7. Chin Stakeholders (outside of Chin State)
This new structure is based on feedback and suggestions from the Chin people, making the ICNCC one of the most inclusive political bodies in Chin history.
2. Headquater and offices
The headquarters of the ICNCC is located in Falam Township, within the controlled area of the Chin National Organization. The ICNCC also has a sub-office in Matupi Township and a communication office in Aizawl, Mizoram.
3. Tasks and Roles in the Council
The ICNCC is currently led by three chairpersons and two secretaries, who have been in their roles since the initiation of the ICNCC reform and will continue until the new Chin charter is ratified. The leadership includes:
1. Dr. Kenton Linn (Chairperson)
2. Salai Lian Luai (Chairperson)
3. U Nay Linn Aung (Chairperson)
4. Mai Judith Siang (Secretary)
5. Pu Thang Tuan Pau (Secretary)
4. Committees and Activities
(a) Defense Committee : On December 7th, 2023, the ICNCC agreed to have a separate defense group as a council member. On December 15th, 2023, the Chinland Joint Defense Committee (CJDC) announced its dissolution, leading to defense groups from six townships joining the ICNCC defense groups, also known as the Chin Brotherhood Alliance. Together with close allied forces, the CB has successfully accomplished the following achievements.
– On May 1, 2024, the Chin Brotherhood (CB) announced that CB successfully seized Kyin Dwe town in Kanpetlet Township.
– On May 26th, the CB captured two SAC camps in Tedim Township.
– On July 7, 2024, the CB and its alliance successfully seized Matupi township from the SAC.
The goal of CB is to liberate the entire Chin State from the SAC military in 2024.
(b) Chin State People’s Police Force (CSPPF): The formation of the Chin State People’s Police Force (CSPPF) was recognized and confirmed by the ICNCC, and the policy of the Chin State People’s Police was confirmed. Furthermore, the ICNCC has granted approval for the sale of NUG Bond for Chin funds to the State People’s Police. The benefit fund may be utilized by the public service sector.
(c) Education Committee: Comprised of Chin teachers, professors, and scholars active in the Civil Disobedience Movement, this committee is drafting an education policy covering basic, higher, and vocational education sectors. The ICNCC also closely collaborates with the Chin State Education Board, which is the specific education board for basic education activities in Chin State. At present, more than 70,000 students are studying at the basic education level in liberated areas of Chin State.
(d) Humanitarian Committee: Reformed from an emergency group initiated in response to Cyclone Mokha in May 2023, this humanitarian committee is working with INGOs, NUG, Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA) and the international Chin diaspora to raise funds and aids for Chin IDPs and refugess.
(e) Health Committee: Represents township health departments in Chin State, working with the Ministry of Health (NUG) and an international INGO on a TB, malaria, and HIV reduction project, implemented by the Chin Health Organization (CHO).
(f) CDM Policy: Led by the ICNCC CDM Team, comprising CDM stae who participated in the 2021 Spring Revolution from various townships in Chin State. The policy was reviewed and approved by the ICNCC. This CDM policy is the first ever CDM policy among ethnicities in Myanmar.
(g) Fundraising Committee: With the active contribution of the Chin diaspora, the ICNCC has a Fundraising Committee to raise funds for revolutionary activities. This committee conducts an online fundraising program every Friday morning, broadcasted on the Facebook pages of ICNCC, Chin Liberation Fund, and many other media pages. Several revolution activists, celebrities, and artists are strongly involved in these fundraising activities.
(h) Financial Committee: This committee manages the ICNCC finances and closely collaborate with the ICNCC Fundraising Committee. The ICNCC has allocated 70% of its funds for defense expenses, 20% for medical expenses for defense members injured in the conflict, and 10% for general oeice use.
(i) Chin Administrative Committee: The committee is comprised with each township administration oeicer in Chin state. This committee is drafting administrative policies to empower township-level, tribal-level, and village-level administration activities in Chin state.
(j) Advocacy and Public Relations Committee: Formed to engage with alliances with other political groups in Myanmar and other political actors and groups among the Chin. This group is also drafting a policy for its activities.
(k) ICNCC Reform Committee: This committee was initiated in 2023 to undertake a comprehensive reform process of the ICNCC. It is also leading the revision of the Chin charter. As a result of this committee’s eeorts, the ICNCC was restructured and confirmed at the beginning of 2024. The committee continues to review and refine the charter to this day.
5. Drafting of the Chin Charter
Since the inception of the ICNCC, the Chin Charter Zero Draft has been initiated. In 2021, the CNF and the NLD completed their respective drafts. Subsequently, in 2022, each group worked on a single text. In September 2022, the single text was revised, and the charter was approved as a draft at the ICNCC Council meeting on October 17th.
In August and September 2022, the ICNCC and CJDC convened a meeting and agreed to finalize the Chin charter/constitution, hold a conference, and ratify the Chin charter/constitution at that conference. After that, forming the Chin State Government was agreed upon by the ICNCC and CJDC members. Additionally, negotiations were conducted regarding the Chin Charter/Constitution.
At the time of the discussion and negotiation, representatives from the CNF were noticeably absent. The CNF’s absence prevented the political negotiations from continuing to their goal of ratifying and forming the Chin government.
In 2023, the ICNCC Reform Committee was formed, involving all the townships and tribal leaders in Chin state. This committee resumed the Chin Charter review process, and preparations are already underway to ensure that the Chin charter provides eeective guidance for the Chin people.
The ICNCC aims to hold a conference, ratify the charter, and organize the Chin government in 2024.
6. Challenges and Assistance Needed
The ICNCC and its committees are primarily focused on eradicating dictatorship and all forms of oppression while striving to meet the needs of the Chin people. We are formulating and preparing for a Chin national-level political dialogue, with our ultimate goal being the creation of a new Chin nation.
In the course of this journey, we are addressing numerous limitations and shortages faced by the Chin people. More than 60,000 refugees are fleeing to India, and hundreds of thousands of Chin people are living as IDPs. Therefore, cross-border humanitarian assistance is an urgent and important channel for us. Some of the challenges we face in Chin state are listed below:
A. Needs of Chin Refugees in India
Legal Support: For more than 60,000 Chin refugees in India, legal assistance with documentation and asylum procedures is necessary. Education: Refugee children need access to education, with special consideration for higher education opportunities.
Coordination and Aid: Effective distribution of humanitarian aid, requiring cooperation between India and international organizations.
B. Need of Chin IDPs inside Myanmar
Food: Rice shortages due to displacement and landmines hindering farming.
Education: Support needed for over 70,000 students lacking teachers, textbooks, and lack of access to higher education.
Healthcare: Funding needed for health workers, vaccinations, and emergency aid. Support mobile clinic programs.
Governance: Capacity building for new administrators in liberated areas.
Livelihoods: Vocational training for war-displaced people and civil disobedience movement members.
Safety Environment: Removing all the landmines planted by the SAC military is an urgent task, as these landmines injure and kill civilians