Regime airstrikes have already killed 33 people (23 civilians, including children) this year in Chin State, according to data collected by the Chin Human Rights Organisation (CHRO).
“They are deliberately attacking civilian targets whom they consider to be supporters of the revolution. They recognise that the people have supported the resistance groups attacking the Burma army and see the people as their enemy,” Salai Mang Hare Lian, project manager for CHRO, told Khonumthung News.
In the first four months of 2023, he said, the junta flew up to 160 airstrikes in the state and dropped over 300 bombs. Nearly 80 people were wounded in these attacks, 71 of whom were civilians, accounting for 80 percent of the airstrikes in the country this year. In contrast, he said, the army flew only 21 airstrikes in Chin State in the previous two years.
The resistance controls the countryside of the nine townships in Chin State, where the junta’s forces can only hold the towns. After suffering many casualties during fighting on the ground, the military has resorted to jet fighters and airships.
Currently, daily fighting is taking place on the Falam – Hakha road and the Gangaw – Hakha road near Chun Cung village, where the sit-tat continues to carry out air strikes.
In March and April, the army launched 50 airstrikes: on 30 March on Kuafo village, Thangtlang Township; on 10 April on Webula town, Falam Township; on 16 April on Panpa village, Mindat Township; and on 27 April on Tlanglo village, Thangtlang Township.
Salai Htet Ni, spokesperson for the Chin National Front/Chin National Army, told Khonumthung News that dictator Min Aung Hlaing has vowed to crack down on them for cooperating with the National Unity Government and he’s “imposed martial law in the Chin hills”.
They see they have the support of the people, he said, and why they “committed very cruel actions against civilians”.
“They use jet fighters. This shows how weak their ground forces are in battle.”