Last week, at least 11 regime fighters were reportedly killed during battles between Chin armed groups fighting against Burma’s military regime in Hakha Township, in northern Chin State.
After a Light Infantry Division (LID) 77 from Gangaw Township in Magway Division reportedly suffered many casualties on its way to Chin State, a column of 70 soldiers from Hakha was dispatched to assist it.
The two columns, which together numbered about 120 men, were ambushed in the jungle between the villages of Zokhua and Sap Tha, before reaching the Chin State capital.
Salai Htet Ni, the spokesperson of Chin National Front (CNF), said 11 junta soldiers were killed near Zokhua village on 13 May, but assumed the death toll was even higher.
“We fought three times today: the first time at around 1pm, the second time at 2pm and the third time at 2:30pm in different places.”
He said the LID-77 set out from Magwe Region in mid-April with about 200 soldiers, and during the 20-day journey, resistance fighters killed and wounded up to 150 of their fighters in several ambushes along the way.
“Three helicopters were sent to collect the injured Burma army soldiers. About 60-70 soldiers were killed in the clashes,” he said.
The groups also seized 15 assault rifles and some ammunition dropped by the helicopters for their troops in the first week of May.