As the regime’s forces continue to keep a stranglehold on Mutupi and nothing is allowed to enter or leave the town in southern Chin State, the prices of everything have risen exponentially.
“People are starting to run out of food and if they continue to close all roads next week, there will probably be no fuel left in Mutupi,” a resident told Khonumthung News on condition of anonymity.
The Burma Army (BA) has sealed off the town since losing 17 soldiers in a battle against the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) at the entrance to the town on 19 September. Since then, no goods can be brought into the town and no one can leave for any reason, he explained.
To enforce the new measures, the BA has set up guard posts on the Matupi – Mindat, Matupi – Hakha and Matupi – Paletwa roads. Red flags have been put up around the town and people are not allowed to cross them. And if they do, they will be shot on the spot, the soldiers have warned the inhabitants.
“BA soldiers are firing artillery rounds from the town everyday,” the man said.
The Chinland Defence Force (CDF), which is fighting to overthrow the military regime, maintains soldiers outside the town where BA’s command headquarters and two battalions are based.
Fighting stopped for two months, but has flared up again since mid-September.
According to reports, clashes occurred on 19, 24, 25, 27 and 29 September, in which the BA lost at least 19 soldiers and only one CDF fighter died. However, Khonumthung News was unable to independently confirm this information.