FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ZPCC Statement
Date: March 12, 2026

ZPCC Expresses Grave Concern Over Reported Forced Recruitment of Zomi Villagers in Phaltang, Bukphil, and Ngente

The Zomi Political Coordination Council (ZPCC) expresses grave concern over troubling reports that armed elements identified by local sources as CNF/CNA-linked Hualngo forces have allegedly entered Zomi villages in the Tedim area of Zogam and demanded civilians for forced military recruitment.

According to local eyewitnesses and community sources, the reported incidents involved the villages of Phaltang, Bukphil, and Ngente, where villagers were allegedly pressured to provide persons for enlistment into the armed forces. These reports indicate a pattern of coercion, intimidation, and forced requisition directed against Zomi civilian communities in the affected areas.

If confirmed, such acts constitute a serious threat to the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of the Zomi civilian population. Any attempt to intimidate, coerce, conscript, or compel villagers into armed service against their will is unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. Civilians must never be treated as instruments of war, nor should villages be reduced to sources of forced manpower by outside armed actors.

ZPCC reaffirms that the people of Zogam have the right to live in peace and security on their ancestral land, free from fear, coercion, forced labor, arbitrary threats, harassment, abuse, or forced recruitment.

ZPCC therefore calls for:

  • The immediate cessation of all forced recruitment, coercion, intimidation, and threats against civilians in Zomi areas;
  • Full respect for the dignity, safety, and rights of all villagers and local communities;
  • Public accountability from all armed actors operating in or claiming influence over the Tedim area;
  • Concrete and credible measures to protect Zomi civilians from further harassment, abuse, or forced involvement in armed conflict;
  • Greater unity and coordination among all forces genuinely concerned for the defense of Zogam and the welfare of the Zomi people; and
  • Continued vigilance, documentation, and responsible reporting of such incidents for the sake of truth, justice, and the protection of the people.

ZPCC stands firmly for the protection of the Zomi people and the defense of Zogam in accordance with the principles of justice, responsibility, and lawful self-governance. The suffering of our people must not be ignored, minimized, or met with silence. At this critical hour, the people of Zogam do not need ambiguity. They need protection, accountability, truth, courage, and unity.


Issued by:
Zomi Political Coordination Council (ZPCC)
info@zpcc.net | https://zpcc.net