Teyvada Crossing Incident: Difference between revisions

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[[File:FlagofLavana.png|22px]] '''[[Lavana]]''' <br>
[[File:FlagofLavana.png|22px]] '''[[Lavana]]''' <br>
|commander1= [[File:Trucial Flag.png|22px]] Uo Sthe Kyin  
|commander1= [[File:Trucial Flag.png|22px]] Uo Sthe Kyin  
[[File:Nanpka Flag.png|22px]] Ia Kau Hai
[[File:Nanpka Flag.png|22px]] Kau Hai
|commander2= [[File:FlagofLavana.png|22px]] [[Saravan Khouph]]
|commander2= [[File:FlagofLavana.png|22px]] [[Saravan Khouph]]
[[File:FlagofLavana.png|22px]] Oke Vorachith
[[File:FlagofLavana.png|22px]] Oke Vorachith
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The '''Teyvada Crossing Incident''' was a border incursion and later battle between paramilitary forces in support of the [[Zomia|Union government of Zomia]], and the [[Lavana|People's Republic of Lavana]], taking place in the border province of Terjasa, on the Lavanan side of the Teyvada River. Zomi paramilitaries were present in Lavanan territory from the 2nd to the 6th of February 1971, when they were routed decisively by Army and National Defence Units.
The '''Teyvada Crossing Incident''' was a border incursion and later battle between paramilitary forces in support of the [[Zomia|Union government of Zomia]], and the [[Lavana|People's Republic of Lavana]], taking place in the border province of Terjasa, on the Lavanan side of the Teyvada River. Zomi paramilitaries were present in Lavanan territory from the 2nd to the 6th of February 1971, when they were routed decisively by Army and National Defence Units.


In the years prior to the incident, the Peoples' Republic and the former [[Zomi Confederal State]] had failed to negotiate border adjustments over perceived inconsistencies in historical and ethnic boundaries, resulting from the [[Partition of Estmerish Southeast Coius]] in 1941, which defined the modern borders of Lavana. Although Lavana was a majority {{wp|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_people|Kachai}} country, significant {{wp|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongols|Ukilen}} and {{wp|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhs|Veneran}} minorities existed on the western sections of the country. Although this regions had historically been heavily contested, they had fallen under the control of Lavana. Although the Republic of Lavana had granted various rights to its minority groups, the Civil War between the [[Lavanan Section of the Workers International]] and the Republic in 1956, and later victory of the first in 1960. Led to the establishment of a People's Republic in Lavana. Similarly in Zomia the [[United Zomi Councils|Zomian Section of the Workers International]] led successful revolution and later war, called the [[Trucial Wars]] which led to the establishment of the [[United Zomi Councils]] in 1958. Although the Ukilen population remained divided between both states, friendly relations were maintained.  
In the years prior to the incident, the Peoples' Republic and the former [[Zomi Confederal State]] had failed to negotiate border adjustments over perceived inconsistencies in historical and ethnic boundaries, resulting from the [[Partition of Estmerish Southeast Coius]] in 1941, which defined the modern borders of Lavana. Although Lavana was a majority {{wp|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_people|Kachai}} country, significant {{wp|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongols|Ukilen}} and {{wp|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhs|Veneran}} minorities existed in the western border provinces: historically this region had been heavily contested between steppe invaders, the valley-states of modern day Zomia, and the empires of modern Lavana and [[Dezevau]]. Although the Republic of Lavana had granted various rights to its minority groups, the victory of the [[Lavanan Section of the Workers International]] over the Republic in 1960, and the establishment of a People's Republic in Lavana, undid much of the progress these marginalised groups had made towards recognition. Since 1968 the Lavanan government had sought to dismantle the autonomy and cultural identity of its Ukilen minority, introducing a series of laws restricting the use of Ukilen language and symbols in education and regional government, and favouring Kachai speakers for state employment. Resultant ethnic and nationalist tensions led to the [[Terjasa Conflict|January Uprising]] of 1971 in Terjasa province, destabilising the borders of Lavana and the newly established [[Zomia|Union of Zomia]], which was also populated by a significant Ukilen minority. On the 15th of January Ukilen militias attacked National Defence Units and Kachai-majority towns and villages across Terjasa Province. The Lavanan army mobilised, but initially underestimated the strength of the uprising, resulting in heavy casualties. The Zomi government had been secretly supporting Ukilen forces, [[Trucial Rangers]] 'border patrol' units supplying the insurgency with military-grade weapons, intelligence and anti-socialist propaganda.  


The collapse of the United Zomi Councils in 1970 brought on a period of animosity between Lavana and the newly established Union of Zomia, which laid claims to Lavanan territory, denouncing the current borders between both republics, and for harboring former Zomian Workers International leaders and members. Lavanan policies had sought to reduce the autonomy and independence of the Ukilen population since 1968, with a series of laws that targeted the Ukilen people and their culture. Zomia aided in supporting Anti-Communist and Ukilen nationalist militias, with the intention of creating a general uprising in Ukilen majority areas. Such an uprising occurred on the 15th of January as militias attacked cities and villages. The Lavanan army was moved into the area, but initially underestimated the strength of the uprising causing heavy casualties, and the perceived weakness of the socialist regime. Zomia launched an incursion the 2nd of February into Lavana, first with the intention of resupplying Ukilen militias, but had by the 3rd become evident an invasion was taking place. Lavana reacted with the deployment of armored forces into the province, which quelled fighting in urban areas, fighting with Zomian backed forces began on the 4th, and through the use of armored vehicles and aerial bombardment, the incursion was defeated and expulsed on the 6th.
Even as the Union Government supported Ukilen nationalism across its border, in [[Nanpkat State]], the adjacent Zomi province, the ethnic militias of the Union-aligned Hsan Salvation Front were given free reign to brutally suppress the Ukilen and {{wp|Manchu|Oegun}} population, to quell the spread of the unrest into Zomi territory. In March 1970, royalist forces had destroyed the [[United Zomi Councils]] - the Lavanan-supported socialist regime that had controlled most of the Zomi highlands during the 1960s - and established the [[Zomia|Union of Zomia]]. Historians agree that this did not reflect the strength of the royalist coalition so much as the weakness of the [[Zomi Section of the Workers International]], which had already begun to suffer from factionalism and ethnic infighting as early as 1962. Emboldened by this phoney victory over socialism, and their ethnic hatred of the Ukilen, the ill-disciplined militia of the HSF crossed the Zomia-Lavana border, unauthorised, on the 2nd of February. Under trial, [[Iä Kau Hai]], Commandant of the 3rd Hsan Salvation Army, later claimed that Lavana had been aiding former leaders of the UZC fleeing over the border. From the 2nd to the 4th February, however, before they were engaged that day by Lavanan relief forces, Iä Kau's militia had looted villages abandoned during the [[Terjasa Conflict|January Uprising]], and attacked an unarmed group of Ukilen refugees.  


The event had a significant impact on both states, as tensions increased between both states and fear existed of a Lavanan incursion into the country in retaliation. Although the uprising had destroyed by March with heavy casualties for the militias, although an insurgency existed on the province of Terjasa until 1994, fighting never reached the levels it had during January. Anti-Ukilen laws were repelled in 1978, with the retirement of Lavanan Premier [[Saravan Khouph]]. Tensions still remain between both states, with both countries holding strong military contingents at their mutual border.
On the morning of the 4th, Lavana deployed armoured forces and air power into the province, rapidly defeating the poorly equipped and lead Hsan-Lue militias, ending the incursion by the 6th with minimal casualties. The Teyvada Crossing Incident had a significant impact on both states, as tensions increased between both states and fear existed of a Lavanan incursion into the country in retaliation. Although the uprising had destroyed by March with heavy casualties for the militias, although an insurgency existed on the province of Terjasa until 1994, fighting never reached the levels it had during January. Anti-Ukilen laws were repelled in 1978, with the retirement of Lavanan Premier [[Saravan Khouph]]. Tensions still remain between both states, with both countries holding strong military contingents at their mutual border.


== Background ==  
== Background ==  

Revision as of 18:41, 18 June 2021

Teyvada Crossing Incident
Part of the Terjasa Conflict
Date2 February 1971 - 6 February 1971 (4 days)
Location
Terjasa Province, Lavana
Result

Decisive Lavanan victory
-Purge of Zomi paramilitaries

-Creation of the Union Defence Force
Territorial
changes
Establishment of demilitarised zone in Eastern Nanpka State
Belligerents

Zomia Flag.png Union of Zomia

FlagofLavana.png Lavana
Commanders and leaders

Trucial Flag.png Uo Sthe Kyin

Nanpka Flag.png Iä Kau Hai

FlagofLavana.png Saravan Khouph

FlagofLavana.png Oke Vorachith
Strength

Trucial Flag.png 56

Nanpka Flag.png est. 400

550

5 Type-10 tank
Casualties and losses
86 killed or wounded

4 killed 15 wounded

1 tank destroyed

4 civilians killed

12 civilians wounded

The Teyvada Crossing Incident was a border incursion and later battle between paramilitary forces in support of the Union government of Zomia, and the People's Republic of Lavana, taking place in the border province of Terjasa, on the Lavanan side of the Teyvada River. Zomi paramilitaries were present in Lavanan territory from the 2nd to the 6th of February 1971, when they were routed decisively by Army and National Defence Units.

In the years prior to the incident, the Peoples' Republic and the former Zomi Confederal State had failed to negotiate border adjustments over perceived inconsistencies in historical and ethnic boundaries, resulting from the Partition of Estmerish Southeast Coius in 1941, which defined the modern borders of Lavana. Although Lavana was a majority Kachai country, significant Ukilen and Veneran minorities existed in the western border provinces: historically this region had been heavily contested between steppe invaders, the valley-states of modern day Zomia, and the empires of modern Lavana and Dezevau. Although the Republic of Lavana had granted various rights to its minority groups, the victory of the Lavanan Section of the Workers International over the Republic in 1960, and the establishment of a People's Republic in Lavana, undid much of the progress these marginalised groups had made towards recognition. Since 1968 the Lavanan government had sought to dismantle the autonomy and cultural identity of its Ukilen minority, introducing a series of laws restricting the use of Ukilen language and symbols in education and regional government, and favouring Kachai speakers for state employment. Resultant ethnic and nationalist tensions led to the January Uprising of 1971 in Terjasa province, destabilising the borders of Lavana and the newly established Union of Zomia, which was also populated by a significant Ukilen minority. On the 15th of January Ukilen militias attacked National Defence Units and Kachai-majority towns and villages across Terjasa Province. The Lavanan army mobilised, but initially underestimated the strength of the uprising, resulting in heavy casualties. The Zomi government had been secretly supporting Ukilen forces, Trucial Rangers 'border patrol' units supplying the insurgency with military-grade weapons, intelligence and anti-socialist propaganda.

Even as the Union Government supported Ukilen nationalism across its border, in Nanpkat State, the adjacent Zomi province, the ethnic militias of the Union-aligned Hsan Salvation Front were given free reign to brutally suppress the Ukilen and Oegun population, to quell the spread of the unrest into Zomi territory. In March 1970, royalist forces had destroyed the United Zomi Councils - the Lavanan-supported socialist regime that had controlled most of the Zomi highlands during the 1960s - and established the Union of Zomia. Historians agree that this did not reflect the strength of the royalist coalition so much as the weakness of the Zomi Section of the Workers International, which had already begun to suffer from factionalism and ethnic infighting as early as 1962. Emboldened by this phoney victory over socialism, and their ethnic hatred of the Ukilen, the ill-disciplined militia of the HSF crossed the Zomia-Lavana border, unauthorised, on the 2nd of February. Under trial, Iä Kau Hai, Commandant of the 3rd Hsan Salvation Army, later claimed that Lavana had been aiding former leaders of the UZC fleeing over the border. From the 2nd to the 4th February, however, before they were engaged that day by Lavanan relief forces, Iä Kau's militia had looted villages abandoned during the January Uprising, and attacked an unarmed group of Ukilen refugees.

On the morning of the 4th, Lavana deployed armoured forces and air power into the province, rapidly defeating the poorly equipped and lead Hsan-Lue militias, ending the incursion by the 6th with minimal casualties. The Teyvada Crossing Incident had a significant impact on both states, as tensions increased between both states and fear existed of a Lavanan incursion into the country in retaliation. Although the uprising had destroyed by March with heavy casualties for the militias, although an insurgency existed on the province of Terjasa until 1994, fighting never reached the levels it had during January. Anti-Ukilen laws were repelled in 1978, with the retirement of Lavanan Premier Saravan Khouph. Tensions still remain between both states, with both countries holding strong military contingents at their mutual border.

Background

Incursion

Aftermath