The military junta has recaptured the Kiamtlang hilltop camp near Hakha using hundreds of troops after a week-long intense offensive, which had been previously seized by the joint forces of the Chinland Government, according to Chinland Defense Force-Hakha.
Located on the Hakha-Thantlang road, Kiamtlang hilltop camp is strategically crucial and has been the subject of repeated offensives between the military junta and Chin resistance forces to control the area, Chin resistance forces explain.
The joint Chinland Government forces had previously attacked the Kiamtlang camp three times between October and November, successfully seizing it twice.
After the junta launched a heavy offensive on the camp, the resistance forces lost control of it, said the CDF-Hakha spokesperson.
The CDF – Hakha spokesperson: “They tried to break through our lines day and night. Since it’s close to Hakha, we had to block all routes. But, the junta was reinforcing from within the town, which made defense extremely difficult. We held out for about a week, but eventually couldn’t continue resistance. So, we had to withdraw. On 8 December, the junta troops quickly re-entered the Kiamtlang hilltop camp.”
When the Chinland Government forces initially captured the Kiamtlang camp, non-CDM teachers from Hakha University reportedly petitioned the Chin State Chief Minister, expressing concerns about their security.
A CDF – Hakha official added that after the junta’s chief minister instructed the deputy regional commander to recapture Kiamtlang, they launched a fierce offensive using approximately 200 soldiers, aerial and artillery support.
According to reports, if the joint Chinland Government forces could control the Kiamtlang camp, which is near the Khuhsilobo Independence Monument, it would be critical in cutting off and controlling the Keivanzuang and Simis military camps.
Joint Chinland Government forces first captured the camp on 28 October, with the military council reportedly losing 10 soldiers and resistance side taking four others as prisoners of war and seizing nine firearms.
On 29 October, the junta troops recaptured the camp with a large number of troops. During the offensive, the junta lost seven soldiers from LB 266. During the two-day battle, the junta lost 23 soldiers.
The Chin resistance forces launched another attack on 23 November. Although they did not manage to recapture the camp, they killed four junta soldiers.
Then, during another offensive on 30 November, the joint Chinland Government forces managed to capture the camp again, killing 11 junta soldiers and taking 19 others as prisoners of war, according to reports.
After a week-long offensive using a full force, including artillery and air support, the junta recaptured the Kiamtlang hilltop camp on 8 December.
According to the CDF-Hakha, during the two-month battle for the Kiamtlang camp, 32 junta soldiers were killed, 29 people (including CDM members) were arrested, and nearly 50 weapons, including one machine gun, were seized.
Currently, joint Chinland Government forces control military positions between Hakha and Thantlang, exerting dominance in the area.