ZOMI IN WORLD WARS

Zomi in World War-I

World War I (the Great War) broke out in 1914 with Germany, Austria, Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria fighting against England, France, Russia, America and other nations. Britain mobilized all her human resources to add strength to her fighting troops, and she recruited soldiers and non combatants from all her colonies. In 1916, about a million soldiers and half a million non combatants from British India and Burma were sent to Mesopotamia, Iran, France and Turkey.

About four thousand Zo young men went to Europe. Their journey from Chittagong, Akyab and Rangoon took them to France, where they evacuated the wounded and loaded and unloaded military supplies going to the front. Each of them, except for those who died on the ship or in Europe, brought enough money home to pay for any bride they chose to marry.

The experiences of those who went to Europe were not easily forgotten and in some cases changed beliefs. They were impressed by the war machinery of the Europeans, as the planes, ships and guns were immense developments for the boys from Zo country. They also had endless tales of their adventures and experiences with the French women of the night. Before the Zo young men left for Europe, they had been certain that the sun rose out of the mountain ranges, but when they returned, they were convinced that the sun rose from the ocean.

The British demanded a fixed number of young able-bodied men from every clan and village for the French labour camps, and various Naga, Lusei and others joined the force in 1916. During the 1st World War, 2100 young men from Lushai Hills District, 2,000 Nagas and Zomi from Manipur Hills, and 3000 Zomi from the Chin Hills went to France voluntarily as the Allied Labour Corps. But in 1917, more men were demanded, one thousand men from each of the administrative subdivisions of Falam, Haka and Tedim. The Zo people, who had never left their country, feared that their youths would never come back, as was the case with some who had gone earlier. Moreover, the British still resented the collection of arms and slaves by the British.


Zomi in World War-II

The Second World War broke out in the year 1939 in Europe. Japan joined the war and formed an Axis with Germany and Italy. The British defence position in Burma was too weak to check the Japanese advance and so Japan occupied Burma very easily. In May, 1942, the Governor of Burma fled to Simla and established a Burmese government there. The Japanese forces released Vuamthumaung, an anti-British Zomi leader and some members of the Chin Independence Party from the Katha Jail. As soon as the Zomi politicians returned to the Zo country after crossing the dry zone of Burma on foot, they organized the Zomi freedom movement. In the meantime, Japan gave a nominal independence to Burma in 1943. Taking the opportunity the Zomi leaders declared the independence of the Zomi from the British and formed a government with Pu Vuamthumaung as its President.

Zomi Levies And The Japanese

Once Burma was overrun, the Chin Hills came under the immediate threat of Japanese occupation. In order to resist the Japanese and defend themselves a local defence force known as ‘Zomi Levies’ was formed by the British Civil Officers. Pu Vum Ko Hau, an employee of the British Government, together with the Deputy Commissioner of the Chin Hills, went from one place to another, to organize the defence force and to take up immediate measure to stop the advance of the invading force.

Accordingly, two groups of Levies, “A” and “B”, were established. The “A” Levy constituted of persons who were earlier in the army and survivors of actions in Burma. The “B” Levy was composed of military pensioners. The duty of the unit was to give proper defence in the villages. Besides these two Levies, a number of local levies were also established under different names: The Khualsim Levies, Sukte and Zaniat Levies.

Towards the end of 1942 the British troops had withdrawn from the Chin Hills. However, the Chin Hills remained protected by the members of the various local forces — the Chin Levies, the Chin Hills Battalion, the Chin Forces and the Chinwags.

Thus, without getting any support from the government members of the local levies were able to defend their areas till the end of 1943. British Officers had a very high opinion of the bravery of the Zomi whose defensive actions quite alarmed the Japanese forces who were camping near the Chin Hills.

Colonel Stevenson, Commanding Officer of the Zomi Levies Comments the remarkable contribution of the Zomi as,

“the loyalty of the Chin (Zomi) to me and my small handful of brother officers passes beliefs. At a time when the whole might of the Commonwealth was collapsing about their heads, they (Zomi) stood firm by our side facing the mortars and machine guns of the Japanese with shotguns and ancients flintlocks… with Chin (Zomi) of all ages, both men and women, accepted danger without hesitation… Their resistances to the Japanese in the critical years after 1942 may well have decided the fate of India, for the infiltration tactics which leads to the downfall of Burma were frustrated by their skills as jungle fighters.”

High-ranking Japanese officers soon recognised the activities of the Zomi. At the same time they also understood that an attack on the Zomi would not add to their cause. So between 1942 and 1943, they tried to win over the people by adopting a propaganda policy.

The Zomi refused to accept an appeal from the Japanese. Then in early May, 1943 the Japanese forces began to enter into the Chin Hills area. In spite of strong resistance from the Zomi, the Japanese forces occupied Khuikul. The Japanese forces crushed the 17th Division of the British Army and pushed them back in three directions – the west bank of Chindwin River, the Tamu area, and midway between the Imphal-Kohima roads. The focal objective of the Japanese forces was to beleaguer Imphal and gain mastery over the Imphal plains.

Thence, the Japanese forces turned their full attention on Manipur. The Japanese 15th Army with the support of the Indian National Army (INA) led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, forced their way into Manipur from the Chin Hills and Chindwin valley. In the Chin Hills, all the Zomi were evacuated to safe places to save themselves from the Japanese forces. It would not be an untruth to surmise that the Zomi of the Tedim area in the Chin Hills suffered the most “for the cause of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” as well as “for the survival of mankind from the clutch of Fascist-Axis Powers” in the Global war. The Japanese army ruled over the Zomi area which they handled with kid-gloves for nearly two years till their final withdrawal from the mainland.


Formation Of Chin Leader's Freedom

In order to look after the interests of the undefended Zomi and save them from the oppression of the Japanese, as also the treachery of quislings who formerly belonged to the Burma Rifles and a few local traitors, an organization called the “Chin Leaders’ Freedom League’ (CLFL) was secretly formed. The names of outstanding Zomi leaders on its Executive Committee were Pu Vum Ko Hau, Chairman; Pauzakam, Khaimunmung, Vulzathang, Ginzatuang, Lunpum, Summang, Awnglin, Suktsio, and Pi Donkhoting.

It was a fact that the Japanese had forcefully used the people of Sukte and Sihzang as their labour. Strong anti-Japanese feelings led the Sukte, Sihzang and others to meet at Mualbem and form the Sukte Independence Army (SIA). Pu Hauzalian (Suangzang), Pu Thawngchinthang (Saizang) and the headmen of Gun-Gal villages were founder members of the SIA. Another anti-Japanese formation, the Sihzang Independence Army, under the leadership of Singlian and Suanglian of Sihzang, also joined hands with the Sukte Independence Army.

The resistance movement quickly spread to Ngawn, Falam, Zahau, and Haka areas. In the month of September, 1944 open rebellion against the Japanese was launched by attacking the Japanese Army units. In the meantime the Allied Forces came back and sided with the Zomi. Members of both CLFL and SIA again formed an umbrella organisation called “Free Chin”. The volunteers of the Free Chin attacked the Japanese at Mualbem, Sualim, Sung-aktuam (Thuklai) and Sakhiang (Khawsak). Chief Phutthang and his men drove the Japanese forces from Suangpi and Phunom areas. The Ngawn of Falam cleared the Japanese from the Vazang area. The Zomi attacked the base of the intelligence unit and butchered the Japanese. Field Marshall Sir William Slim aptly described the mood of the Zomi at the prospect of liberating their own country as follows:

“…The Levies were overjoyed at the prospect of liberating their own country. They took with them their families rather like the children of Israel trekking out of Egypt, dumping them in their own villages as they recaptured them one by one…”

On 17th May, 1945 the British Government issued a statement of policy in which it was declared that the 1935 Constitution would be kept in abeyance until December, 1948 and the entire responsibilities of administration would be in the hands of the Governor who would be assisted by an Executive Council. During this interim period the Government would form a Constitution making body to draft a new constitution and subsequently, they promised,

“Full self-Government to Burma within the Commonwealth; but the Scheduled areas (the Shan state and other hill areas) would remain subject to a special regime under the Governor, until such time as the inhabitants signify their desires for some suitable form of association of their territories with Burma proper”.

British Relation After World War-II

The World War II came to an end in the year 1945. By then, with the tide of war changing against them, Japan had withdrawn from the entire region of South-east Asia and the British resumed their administrative authority in the region. To the credit of British foresight, just after the end of the war, they correctly gauged the political aspirations which was developing on the Indian Sub-continent and were convinced that they would not be able to suppress the overwhelming feeling of nationalism. In the context of Burma also the British Government wanted certain political concessions so that the people of these areas (Zomi & Chin indigenous people) would have an opportunity to govern their own people. Meanwhile, on the 27th January, 1947 an agreement was signed between Attlee and Aung San to have a new Constitution of Burma. That agreement was known as the “London Agreement”.

On the basis of the provision of the London Agreement a conference was held from February 10-12, 1947 at Panglong, in Shan State. The names of the Zomi Chiefs who attended the Conference were Hlur Mung, Chief of Lumbang, Tho Za Khup, Chief of Saizang, and Kio Mang, Chief of Haka and Vum Ko Hau. Other Chiefs like Pumzamang, Thangtinlian, Vanhmung and Hluahmung, though invited they refused to attend the Conference because they did not like to join Burma. Actually, they wanted to establish Zogam, an independent Zo country. In that Conference the Burmese delegates were able to know the mind of the Zomi who had no faith in the capability of the Burman as an administrator. So Aung San, who was an honest and straightforward Burmese leader, tried to convince the Zomi delegates. He went to the extent of saying: “the Presidency of the future Union of Burma will be by turn among the various races of Burma. When Burma becomes independent, you will get the chance available in an independent, sovereign state…”

An Agreement, thereafter, was signed on February 12, 1947. The terms of the agreement were mainly confined to the modalities of the establishment of administration in the frontier areas. One important aspect of the agreement was that citizens of the Frontier areas could have the right and privilege to enjoy the fundamental principles which are provided in the Constitution of the Union of Burma. Apart from this the Agreement also accepted to provide full internal autonomy in the Frontier areas.

The terms of the Agreement, however, were not accepted by the Karens and the Zomi of the Arakan Hill Tracts. Yet the terms of the Agreement were ratified by the Shans, Kachins and the Chin Hills Zomi. This marked a turning point in the future history of the Frontier areas. After the signing of the Panglong Agreement, a Frontier Areas Enquiry Commission was constituted with an objective to find out the opinions of the people of the Frontier Areas. The following persons were the members of the Commission.

Mr. D.R.Rees-William, M.P., Chairman.

Burma Members
Frontier area Members

• The Hon’ble U Tin Tut
• Thakin Nu Sima
• U Khin Maung Gale
• Saw Myint Theim • The Hon’ble Sawbwa of Mangpawn (Shan)
• Asinwa Nawng (Kachin)
• Pu Vum Ko Hau (Zomi)
• Saw Sankey (Karen)

The members immediately started the work, collecting the opinions of the representatives and witnesses. They found that the majority of the people were in favour of the establishment of a federation type of administration. Another aspect of the recommendation of the Commission was the right of secession. It stated that any state of the Union of Burma has the right to secede at any time. This part of the recommendation was also accepted by the Constitution of Burma (1947). Article 201 of the Constitution of the Union of Burma states,

“Every state shall have the right to secede from the Union of Burma under the following conditions.

“202. The right of secession shall not be exercised within ten years from the date on which this Constitution comes into operation.

“203.(i) Any state wishing to exercise the right of secession shall have a resolution to that effect passed by its State Council. No such resolution shall be deemed to have been passed unless not less than two-thirds of the total numbers of the State Council concerned have voted in its favour”.

(ii) The Head of the State concerned shall notify the President of any such resolution passed by the Council and shall send him a copy of such resolution certified by the chairman of the Council by which it was passed”.

The Independence Treaty was signed on the 17th October, 1947. It was endorsed by the British Parliament on the 10th December, 1947. After this the British withdrew from Burma and on the 4th January, 1948 Burma attained independence.


Source: zogam.org