The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) has reported that the Military Council seized nine civilian houses in Hakha town in Chin state in July and pressed charges against some of the homeowners for supporting the revolution against the military dictatorship.
“The Military Council has taken action against the families of members of the resistance or Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) supporters,” said Salai Mang Hare Lian from CHRO, calling the move terrorism.
“Each person makes their own decision to join a revolutionary group or engage in the CDM. This is not related to the person’s family—it’s their choice.”
According to a statement by the Military Council, they will charge the house owners for violating Article 52 of the Counter-Terrorism Act, as these homeowners allegedly allowed a resistance member to hide in their houses. Article 52(a) empowers a penalty of three to seven years of imprisonment for engaging in activities that “knowingly involve a terrorist group.” Using Article 56, the junta will seize these houses as state properties.
The Military Council has heightened security measures in the capital town. Through the use of loudspeakers, local authorities publicly announce that local residents can directly report individuals participating in the resistance movement to them.
CHRO reported that the Military Council has already seized nearly 20 civilian houses in the town since the military coup. Among these, only one house was returned to the owner.