Over a thousand villagers are hiding in the jungle after the State Administration Council (SAC) dispatched a military column to patrol around their villages in Matupi Township, southern Chin State.
“In this area, local residents are not expecting conflict,” said an officer with the People’s Administration for Matupi Township. He said when SAC soldiers arrived, they fled with their clothes on their back.
About 1,200 people from Chan Pyan (A), Chan Pyan (B), Har Tue, Ram Teing and Muan Ton desperately need food and medicine.
The villagers, many of whom are children and elderly, are staying in two areas. They have assembled simple bamboo shelters wrapped in tarps.
The SAC column has torched 38 homes of the 70 houses in Chan Pyan (B) and their rice bank and library.
Ko Naing John, the spokesperson for the Matupi Chinland Defence Force, which is fighting the regime, said about 200 soldiers Infantry Battalion 304 patrolling the Matupi – Mindat road entered Chan Pyan (A) and (B) villages on February 1.
A CDF landmine ambush near Chan Pyan (B), seriously injured at least six junta soldiers, including their captain, he said. He lost both his legs while another soldier lost one leg and another soldier suffered an eye injury. After suffering casualties, they attacked Chan Pyan (B) on February 2.
“An informer close to the Burma army told us that the column was ordered to march to Chan Pyan (A) and (B) villages. I think they are running out of their food rations in Matupi town and have come to steal rice from civilians.”
The junta soldiers were seen transporting rice when they returned to Matupi town, he explained. And the soldiers also stole livestock from the villages.
The regime has been deploying reinforcements and currently there’s about 1,000 troops in the town. Naing John said with the extra troops, they don’t have enough food to feed themselves.
“We are warning residents to be hyper vigilant when travelling and take care of their properties, rice and livestock safely” as more raids are expected.
Although the soldiers have left the villages, the residents have chosen to stay in the jungle for now.