Soldiers of the Storm, Keepers of the Dream
In the rain-drenched highlands of Zogam, where mist crowns the mountains and mud grips the boots of every marcher, the Zomi Revolutionary Army Eastern Command (ZRAEC) stood unwavering during its passing-out parade. What unfolded in the cold and downpour was not simply a military drill—it was the voice of a nation in motion, a testimony of courage, resilience, and unbreakable resolve.
These young men and women, standing shoulder to shoulder against the storm, were more than recruits. They were the beating heart of a people who refuse to bend, a living declaration that Zogam’s destiny will be shaped by sacrifice, not surrender.
The Zogam Charter clearly affirms that the ZRAEC is the sole authorized armed force of the Zomi people. This mandate is not a choice but a duty—a covenant with the land, the ancestors, and the future. It entrusts the ZRAEC with protecting Zogam from all invaders: foreign, domestic, and neighboring aggressors alike.
The Sacred Mandate of the Zogam Charter
Guiding them is the Zogam Charter, which ordains the ZRA-EC as the sole protector of the Zomi nation. This mandate is no ordinary decree—it is a covenant with the ancestors and a pledge to the generations yet to come. It binds the soldier not to ambition, but to duty; not to conquest, but to defense of truth, justice, freedom, and peace.
Every stride they take carries forward the legacy of the Zogam Sálpha—the martyrs who gave their all, the living who give some, so that the Zomi people may walk into a future free and dignified.
Every platoon’s march is powered not only by discipline but by the unseen hands of ordinary Zomi people. Mothers who cook, fathers who harvest, youths who carry supplies, elders who pray, and diaspora families who donate—all are part of this living chain of defense. Food, clothing, medicine, and even words of encouragement are as vital as bullets and rifles.
The People Behind the Zomi Army
The images from that day capture more than discipline. Recruits—rifles glistening with raindrops, uniforms soaked yet steady—stood unshaken, their faces lit by determination.
The mud on their boots is the land they vow to defend.
The rain on their skin mirrors the tears of mothers and elders longing for peace.
The fire in their eyes is a promise—that not an inch of Zogam, not a stone, not a memory will ever be surrendered.
Each soldier is not just a fighter, but a symbol of national faith—a reminder that even amid hardship, spirit burns brighter than any storm.
A People’s Army, A Nation’s Strength
Behind every march, behind every firing drill, lies the strength of a united people. The ZRA-EC moves forward not on weapons alone, but on the hands and hearts of its community.
Mothers who prepare meals, fathers who labor in the fields, youths who trek through forests with supplies, elders who bow their heads in prayer, and diaspora families who give what they can—all are threads of one unbroken chain.
This army is not apart from the people. It is the people. In this family of sacrifice, some give all, many give some, but together all give for the same cause: nationhood, dignity, and survival.
Hope Rising in the Hills
Defenders of Peace, Guardians of Democracy
The ZRA-EC is more than a shield in battle—it is also a guardian of hope for a democratic and federated Zogam. Guided by the Zomi Political Coordination Council (ZPCC), its mission is anchored not in endless war, but in safeguarding the foundations of peace, the principles of democracy, and the dream of freedom.
A Call to Unity and Global Conscience
The Zomi struggle is not isolated. It is part of a greater fight for indigenous rights, federal democracy, and peace in Myanmar and beyond. Every Zomi soul—whether dwelling in the valleys of Tedim or in distant diaspora lands—has a role to play.
And to the world, the message is clear: the Zomi Army does not march for conquest—it marches for survival, identity, and justice. The time has come for the international community to recognize and support this struggle, which is rooted firmly in human rights and dignity.
Hope Rising from the Hills
The passing-out parade, held in mud and storm, was more than a ceremony. It was a declaration: the Zomi nation is alive, organized, and unbending.
From the rivers of Cikha to the ridges of Tonzang, from Kalay’s plains to the heights of Tedim, the ZRA-EC stands as a wall of courage around its people.
Their message is simple but powerful: So long as a single soldier stands in the rain with rifle in hand and fire in heart, Zogam shall endure.
The ZRA-EC is not just an army—it is the hope of a nation taking root, nourished by the sacrifices of the Zogam Sálpha, strengthened by the will of its people, and driven by the dream of freedom, peace, and justice.
