A Glimpse Into The Underlying Cause Of Silence In The War-Torn Area Of Chin State
(One of the camps built in Paletwa town for IDPs displaced by armed conflict between Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army since 2015)
Sui Meng Par
4 June 2021
On 29th May 2021, the Chin National Front (CNF) announced its alliance with the National Unity Government (NUG) in fighting against dictatorship. One of the signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) since 2015, CNF now became the first ethnic armed group to ally with NUG. The two parties made a pact on equality, mutual respect, mutual recognition and in the implementation of federal democracy in the country. Chin State currently served as one of the main centers of junta troops’ fierce operation next to Karenni State. Therefore, CNF’s deal with the NUG may lead the way to further combats between the regime and local militiamen called Chinland Defense Force (CDF).
Chin State, situated in the west of Myanmar have suffered from unending political calamity since it joined the Union Government in 1947. Violations of the rights of cultures, literature and religion intensified with military coup d’état in 1962, under the leadership of General Ne Win. Many sacrificed their lives for the cause of nationalism/patriotism, and many left the country as political refugees settling around the globe. Over 70-year-long Civil War in the country incessantly brought ineffable physical and emotional wounds to the Chins, even until today.
The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) reported that more than 50 civilians in Chin State’ Mindat have been injured by the Tatmadaw’s heavy attacks both from air and ground, after Chinland Defense Force (CDF-Mindat), local volunteer militiamen took action against their [military’s] oppression. The Tatmadaw applied the scorched earth policy of four cuts strategy that was employed to counterattack the insurgencies in the past. Another “cut” that adds to “the four cuts” in Mindat is the telecommunications/internet shutdown. “About half of Mindat’s population are hiding in the jungle, staying in informal camps or nearby villages”, reported CNN.
Moreover, the junta troops’ ground attacks to Loklung village (a 9-mile distant from Chin State’s capital, Hakha) on 17th and 18th May 2021 caused villagers to flee to nearby villages. This incident occurred after Loklung villagers caught sight of drones hovering over the area for a week. More than 200 troops from LIB 266 arrived in the village and started operation before dawn. “The junta’s troops set some motorbikes on fire and raided some houses in the village. All the villagers except the elderly and sick, deserted the village,” reported the Hakha Times.
One of the poorest states in Myanmar, Chin State had been incessantly neglected by successive military governments ever since General Ne Win’s era. Chin State saw some improvements during 10 years of quasi-democracy (2010 – 2020), yet had never been in a peaceful order.
Since the military staged a coup on 1st February 2021, Paletwa Township in the south of Chin State appeared to be peaceful with little media coverage. Until recently, there were no major boycotts of the coup, more like some other places in the country. There was no reported case of fighting between the military and the people so far. Besides, the majority of government employees did not get involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). There were no major events of street demonstrations apart from the gathering of 50 individuals near the town centre on 9th February 2021, which was followed by an anti-coup protest where pamphlets were scattered on the streets across the town. Again, these activities were apparently stopped within the following few days. Hence, the question remains “Is Chin State’ Paletwa Township at peace at present?”
Doubled with the absence of anti-coup movements, Paletwa Township saw about 50% of children recently admitted to government schools. The re-opening of schools made the township look relatively peaceful on the surface, without understanding the actual ground situations, which are quite often left unknown and unrecognized.
Chin State’ Paletwa Township served as the hotbed of armed conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA). Hosting the armed conflict over the course of almost six years, the township sees loss of many lives, countless internal displaced persons (IDPs), several abductees (committed by both the parties), deterioration of livelihood practices and other war-inflicted consequences. The extreme shortage of healthcare services triggered by the hostilities until today causes acute malnutrition in children. Lack of educational and other social services remains another key issue with the condition of IDPs getting significantly worse.
In the war-torn area of Chin State’ Paletwa Township, both the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) committed violations of human rights including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture, forced labors and other inhumane acts. People were constantly used as human shields and guards without their consents. In addition, both parties got involved in illegal trading of Paletwa’s valuable teak for their own interests and benefits. Besides, the Chinland Post (a local media agency in Hakha, Chin State) documented over the course of eight months at least 5 cases of landmine explosion that led to one civilian dead and three injured.
The concerns of the people in Paletwa Township rest more on basic survival needs and ways to be able to practice previous livelihoods methods (of agriculture). Returning to their homes of origin remains what majority of the IDPs[1] yearn for. However, their ultimate dreams go farther as they chase, with the military staging a coup on 1st February 2021. Resistance against the coup remains at their hearts when demonstrating on the streets is hardly possible.
On having conversation regarding the anti-coup protest, an IDP leader in Paletwa Town stated, “With the presence of Tatmadaw’ light infantry divisions (LID) in Paletwa Township, individuals in a war-torn area did not have courage to repeat the same activity.”
As per Khumi Media Group’s report, as many as 18 residents from Paletwa Township had been arrested since 1st February 2021 where 11 were still in the custody. Many humanitarian aids from local/international organizations significantly dropped, leaving many IDPs in livelihoods woes. Chin State as a whole was never at rest since the first military coup in 1962 up until the February 2021 coup.#
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