After soldiers from the State Administration Council (SAC) torched their homes, no one has been able to return to their village located in Tamu Township in Sagaing Region.
“At this time, we are living in bamboo huts along the (Indian) border. It is impossible to go back, as only a few houses remain standing,” a female resident of the Chin-inhabited Htang Tapin told Khonumthung News, while asking to remain anonymous out of fear of reprisals against her.
As the region remains unstable, she said there is no point for them to return and rebuild at this time and plan to remain at the new bamboo huts they constructed along the borderline. Others who have relatives in Tamu town are waiting for the situation to improve before deciding if they will return home.
The villagers from Htang Tapin did not bring much when fleeing and they need rice and other basic food items, as well as medicine, clothing, and tarpaulins, etc.
Burma army soldiers arrived at the village, which is situated on the Kalay – Tamu road, on December 3. They ordered residents to assemble in the football grounds, during which time they burned 230 of the 300 homes to the ground over two days.