Hundreds of Chins have been killed since the coup that reverted the country to a dictatorship over two years ago after a reform period lasting three elections.
According to a report by the Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA), until early March, at least 380 people were killed during the civil war in Chin State, a stronghold of the resistance, including children and some religious leaders.
164 died in 2021, 195 in 2022 and 24 by 28 February this year. There were 120 civilians killed, including 24 children and 4 pastors, and 230 fighting against the regime.
The ICA report points out that there are 500,000 Chins in Burma, so the number of killings in the state is high.
Salai Van Sui San, deputy director of ICA, told Khonumthung News that some were killed by landmines or in prison, and some women were raped before being murdered. At least four women were raped by soldiers, including a fifteen-year-old girl, the report said. Many people were killed in air strikes by fighter jets, artillery and mortars.
The military destroyed 4,300 properties, including houses, schools and at least 60 churches, and used at least 56 people as human shields. The army killed 10 people in Matupi Township after forcing them to serve as human shields, including Pu Tuidim, a founder of Khonumthung News and Burma News International. About 900 people were arrested, convicted and sentenced to hard labour without any evidence.
Some 90,000 people have been displaced by the war. Another 15,000 have fled to Manipur State, 40,000 to Mizoram State and 10,00 to New Delhi, the latter two being in India.
“For decades, the military has violated human rights, committed war crimes and perpetrated crimes against humanity,” says the report, which called for strong external action against the perpetrators.