Teyvada Crossing Incident
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| Teyvada Crossing Incident | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Terjasa Conflict | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
|
 Lavana | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
 Ia Kau Hai |
Oke Vorachith | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
est. 400 |
550 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 86 killed or wounded |
4 killed
15 wounded | ||||||||
|
4 civilians killed | |||||||||
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 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 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.
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.
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.