In anticipation of further airstrikes by the regime, the Mindat Chinland Defence Force (CDF) has urged civilians to dig bunkers to protect themselves from indiscriminate attacks by jet fighters and artillery fire in Mindat Township, southern Chin State.
“We have already warned the people in a statement, but not everyone followed our instruction, so we have issued a second warning,” said Ko Yaw Mang of the People’s Administration for the township, which is under CDF.
He said regime attacks have increased recently and civilian property, including religious buildings, have been destroyed, but fortunately no one has lost their lives or suffered injuries.
But in the past, people have died and or injured because they didn’t heed the warning from CDF. Local leaders must encourage villagers to build shelters to protect them from air attacks, said Ko Yaw Mang.
On 14 April, the administration asked villagers not to gather in groups, even for traditional ceremonies, and to dig bunkers next to their houses and inform the village chief and CDF if they find unexploded ordnance.
On 28 June, fighter jets bombed Lok Hkay and shelled it five times with artillery. On the same day, the military attacked Yawna Tue, also called Dawna Tue, and on 1 July attacked a village in Taiknel 3 village tract.
Earlier attacks with jet fighters and attack helicopters were against Chap, Suan Tawng, Palake Htwi, Rawng Lawng, Pangpa, Lok Hkay and CDF outposts on the Mindat – Matupi road, according to the People’s Administration.
The military often fires artillery at village tracts 2, 3 and 4.
According to the Chin Affairs Institute, the regime flew 77 airstrikes in Chin State and Kalay District in Sagaing Region between February 2021 and April 2023.
At least 64 members of the Chin ethnic group, including 10 resistance fighters, were killed in airstrikes since the coup.