On Monday, Chin National Army (CNA) soldiers Salai Sum Oo (aka Hung Lay) and Salai Htawng Naw Huay (aka Sung Pi) were killed by regime shelling during a morning battle on Lung Hker Hill between the towns of Hakha and Thangtlang in Chin State.
The Zotung Post has announced that the fallen CNA soldiers were ethnic Zotung.
Since the end of May, approximately 150 Burma army soldiers have been shelling the resistance forces in Timit Valley and around Lung Hker Hill every day.
The resistance claimed to have killed nearly 50 sit-tat soldiers, most of them from ambushes, and 17 Chin fighters have died. A source close to the CNA said the groups captured many weapons and other military equipment from regime soldiers in the valley.
It was not possible for Khonumthung News to independently confirm the number of dead on both sides.
The CNA’s political wing, the Chin National Front, has announced it will close Chin State to outsiders after the regime has been reportedly sending its troops in plainclothes to the state in civilian vehicles and buses to avoid frequent raids by resistance groups fighting the military regime.
A statement from the armed organisation on 8 June said, “The CNF restricts people and vehicles carrying weapons and other military items of the Burma army” and promised that violators would be dealt with harshly.
“The CNF has banned outsiders from entering Chinland. People living in Chin State are allowed to move freely in Chin State.” If someone needs to come to the state because of a emergency, they can apply for a letter of recommendation from the respective Chinland Defence Force or People’s Defence Force, the CNF said.