An interview with a CDM teacher from Matupi Township
Civil servants across the country have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), defying the military coup on February 1st.
Chin State sees the strongest CDM activities. Over 14,000 of over 20,000 civil servants in Chin State have joined the CDM. Currently, the CDM staff from Chin State have to take shelter in Mizoram State of India due to their security. The KMG interviewed a CDM teacher from Matupi Township in Chin State about the current situation.
Q: Why did you decide to flee to the liberation area?
A: I don’t want to go to the liberation area. But, I move here as I fear that I may face a similar incident.
Q: How did you overcome your difficulties to get to the liberation area?
A: The villages on the India-Myanmar border welcomed us when we stayed on the border for more than one month. The Indian soldiers told us to go home after a one-month stay. The Indian soldiers with guns inspected the rooms and told us to open the doors. They inspected how many people were there and urged us to stand up. They took photos. Today, we arrived back here by car as we all were forced to go home. They questioned us in Mizo language. No one can speak Mizo language. We waited for it with bated breath. We have no place to live if we are forced to return home. They interrogated us for around one hour. The driver apologized to the Indian officials. The officials allowed us to go as the officials’ minds changed when they saw children in the car.
Q: What are the difficulties in the liberation area?
A: We can endure any difficulties. We are not as difficult as the CDF, the CNA and youths in the forests. I cannot go downtown to buy food as it is very far from here. I feel patient for my needs if I think about how tired the youths are. I have to ask for the help from other when I want to go to the clinic and cannot speak their language
Q: Do you worry about the future of your child?
A: My son is going to turn three. I cannot do too much for him as he is still young. I don’t want to be egocentric. There is no plan for my son when the people in the entire country have lost their future.
Q: Do you repent of your decision to join the CDM?
A: I shall repent of my decision not to join the CDM. I shall never repent of my decision. I am not working for the party and for a person. I don’t like war. We faced the plights due to the war in Matupi. I joined the CDM without exhortation.
Q: What is your message for other CDM staff?
A: CDM staff may feel depressed as the CDM period is long. They will think about whether what they did is right or wrong. We may repent of it when we feel depressed and face difficulties. My encouragement to other CDM staff is that we should feel patient as our CDM is very effective. As a teacher, I want to teach our children the real history. I encourage other CDM staff to avoid demoralisation.
Sent by the KMG.
