Khai Kam
Khai Kam was the son of Sizang chief Pu Khup Pau and Pi Cing Niang.
A levy of Military Police (later 2nd Battalion of Burma Rifle) guarded the Yaw valley against the depredations of the Southern Chins.
At the beginning of December 1888, the road construction was completed until the foot of the hill, there they established No.2 Stockade i.e. Zawlkin/Khai Kam village.
The Sizang council sent Khai Kam of Khuasak to meet Khawcin (the chief of Kamhau) at Tedim.
On Christmas Day, the combined forces of Sizang, Kamhau an Sukte attacked on the working party under the direction of Lt. Butcher of 42nd Gurkha Bn.
On 10 December 1888, the great force of Tashon made a simultaneous attack on the villages of Sihaung, Kyawywa and Kundu.
The Chins swooped down from the heights on to the party, which was working on a narrow spur, and attacked them from all four sides, fighting under cover of heavy undergrowth.
Field Marshal Sir George Stuart White Commander-in-Chief of Burma, personally came to supervise the expeditions.
He recorded this in a stone inscription which reads "I am the 15th generation down from the house of Thuantak who is the original progenitor of the Siyin Tribe.
When the British on 1888 undertook their first expedition against us (the Chins) I attainded the age of 20 years and I played an active part in the defence against them.
[2] (Note: This is not a full inscription) Before the arrival of British force at Sizang villages, Khai Kam burned his capital Khuasak then moved into the jungle.
The destruction of Sizang villages was accomplished with a good deal of firing, but very little damage to life and limb (Carey & Tuck 1896, P29)".
The British burned Suangpi in November but instead of surrendering, Khai Kam simply moved again his headquarter to Pimpi.
The British then temporarily abandoned their attempt to defeat the Sizang, who resisted under the leadership of Khai Kam.
In the Gungal area (right bank of Manipur River), Kaptel village under Chief Thuam Thawng, attacked the British outpost at Botung.
The Sizang chiefs (except Mang Lun of Sakhiling) held a conference and agreed unanimously to start a rebellion.
[1] Thuam Tawng then invited the political officer Mr. Carey to take a fresh oath of submission.
Khai Kam and Pau Dal (son of Thuam Thawng) choose 200 warriors for rebellion.
The Gungal and Sukte attacked the British posts and the Sizang blocked Kalay-Sizang road, cut the telegraph wires, stole the cattle's and destroyed the vegetation.
The British quickly learned about the rebellion and sent a large force of 2,500 rifles with two mountain guns led by Brigadier General Arthur Power Palmer to crush the rebels.
By the end of 1893, his strength was recorded at 127 fully armed and their families all belong to Sizang and Thuklai clans.
On 21 Feb 1893, the military situation was reported by Major General R. C Stewart follows: "I beg to note, for the Chief Commissioner's information, the state of affairs in the Chin Hills, as the result of my late visit to Fort White and Hakha.
Military Situation: The Chief Commissioner is aware of the circumstances connected with the murder of the Myook and a portion of the escorts by the Siyins (Sizang) and Nwengals (Gungal), and subsequent telegrams and diaries have related the progress of the revolt and of the operations which were deemed necessary to suppress it.
7 Bombay Mountain Battery, and 100 rifles with Headquarters, 1st Burma Battalion, under Captain Presgrave, and subsequently by 200 rifles Norfolk Regiment, under Captain Baker, which enable the offensive to be taken with vigour; and General Palmer, Commanding the Myingyan District, arrived at Fort White on the 1st December and assumed control of the operations.
Small parties have been despatched daily from several posts to search the valley and ravines, and to hunt up Chins still lingering in the vicinity of the occupied villages.
When I left Fort White General Palmer and Mr. Carey were very hopeful that both the Nwengals and the Siyins would shortly submit.
I have every reason to hope, therefore, that full submission may shortly be expected, and I consider it a matter of congratulation that the revolt has been localised, and that the neighbouring tribes have not joined in it".
Do Thang (Sukte Chief) was arrested and asked the villagers to capture the rebels in order to purchase his liberty.
[1] The British authorities were frustrated about the rebellion, and started to use punitive measures to capture Khai Kam and his followers.
[5] Upon successful appeal by his brother to the British authority, Khai Kam was released on 14 May 1910 and returned to Chin Hills.
