Yangon: Late one night last month, Iang Za Kim heard explosions in a neighboring village, followed by the ominous roar of fighter jets overhead. Terrified, she fled her home in Myanmar’s western Chin State, seeking refuge in the surrounding forests.
According to BBC, Iang is among thousands of civilians who have been forced to abandon their homes as the Burmese military intensifies its campaign of air strikes and ground offensives in rebel-held territories, aiming to reclaim control ahead of elections scheduled to begin on December 28. The military’s actions have been described by some in Chin State as the most severe offensive in over three years.
Many displaced individuals have sought safety within other parts of the state, while Iang and her group have crossed into India’s Mizoram state. They are currently sheltered in a rundown badminton court in Vaphai village, with their meager possessions packed in plastic sacks. Local Indian villagers have provided them with food and basic necessities.
For 80-year-old Ral Uk Thang, fleeing from the military’s cruelty has been a recurring nightmare. He recounts the fear of living under a government that arrests, tortures, and destroys homes. Myanmar’s military government, which seized power in a coup in February 2021, has been widely condemned for its oppressive regime and indiscriminate targeting of civilians to quell the armed uprising.
The junta’s recent offensive included an airstrike on a hospital in Rakhine State, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 70. According to the Chin Human Rights Organisation, since mid-September, junta airstrikes have targeted three schools and six churches in Chin State, resulting in 12 deaths, including six children. The BBC independently verified a bombing on a school in Vanha village on October 13, where two students were killed.
Meanwhile, the National League for Democracy party, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, is absent from the upcoming election as its leaders remain imprisoned. Bawi Nei Lian, displaced for the second time, questions the legitimacy of an election held under such oppressive conditions. Rebel groups have labeled the election a sham, asserting that it serves only to extend military rule.
At the Chin National Front’s base, Vice Chairman Sui Khar highlights the ongoing intense conflict, with nearly 50 rebel fighters injured in the past month. The base, located in the heart of the resistance, is rarely accessed by outsiders. Injured fighters, many of whom were schoolboys during the coup, now bear the scars of battle. Despite the harsh realities, the determination of young fighters like Abel, who lost a leg in combat, underscores the resilience and hope for a better future.
Amidst the turmoil, some, like Ral Uk Thang, cautiously hope for a return to democracy, though he doubts he will live to see it. Yet, the resolve of Myanmar’s youth, fighting for change, offers a glimmer of hope for future generations.