Nearly the entire population of Thantlang, Chin State, fled the town after a day-long clash between anti-junta resistance groups and the military over the weekend.
The Thantlang branch of the Chinland Defence Force (CDF), joined by forces from the Chin National Army (CNA), clashed with junta soldiers on Saturday. At least 18 homes and a government building were set ablaze by the junta’s artillery fire. A Christian pastor who tried to put out the fire was shot dead by the Myanmar army troops.
According to the CDF, at least 30 soldiers were also reportedly killed in the clash. The junta’s armed forces began shooting indiscriminately at houses in the town the following day; this prompted the remaining residents to flee, according to Salai Lian, a spokesperson from the Thantlang Placement Affairs Committee (TPAC), a local organisation assisting the displaced persons.
“[Soldiers] arbitrarily opened fire on houses yesterday morning. There were between 90 and 100 troops marching on both sides of the street and shooting at houses,” he said on Monday.
The incident is the latest in a series of clashes between the CDF and the junta which intensified earlier this month.
“Now nearly 100 percent of the residents have fled. Only those government employees who do not participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement and the army troops remain in the town,” a Thantlang resident told Myanmar Now on the condition of anonymity.
Thantlang town had a population of 8,000.
The resident added that the displaced residents are now sheltering in Mizoram, India, or in temporary camps in villages on the Myanmar side of the border.
On September 9, CDF fighters ambushed junta soldiers in Thantlang and killed two soldiers. Residents began to flee following the incident.
Two days later, the joint forces from the CDF and CNA seized a military base in Lungler village in Thantlang. Warned of the battle, 140 villagers fled to Mizoram three days in advance, with the others following after the attack on the base began.
As of September 17, there were some 5,200 people displaced to about 35 villages on the border and Mizoram, but they had been unable to contact local or international organizations for help, Salai Lian of TPAC said, adding that some of those who have fled are infected with Covid-19 and quarantine facilities were needed.
