Escalating Conflict Forces Mass Displacement
In late November, residents of K-Haimual village in Myanmar's Chin State experienced a night of terror. Iang Za Kim recalls hearing explosions from a nearby settlement, followed by the sound of military aircraft overhead. "We were terrified. We thought the junta's planes would bomb us too. So we grabbed what we could – some food and clothes and ran into the jungles surrounding our village," she stated, her voice trembling as she recounted the events of 26 November.
This incident is part of a broader military campaign involving aerial bombardments and ground assaults in rebel-held regions across the country. The offensive, described by some from Chin State as the most intense in over three years, aims to reclaim territory before elections scheduled to begin on 28 December.
Seeking Refuge Across Borders
The violence has triggered a significant humanitarian crisis, with thousands abandoning their homes in recent weeks. Many displaced individuals have sought shelter in other parts of Chin State, while others, like Iang Za Kim, have crossed the international border into India's Mizoram state. There, groups find temporary refuge in basic shelters, such as a dilapidated badminton court in Vaphai village, their few salvaged possessions stored in plastic sacks. Local Indian villagers have provided essential food and supplies.
For many, the decision to flee was driven by multiple fears. While airstrikes provided the immediate impetus, there is also widespread apprehension about the upcoming election. "If we are caught and refuse to vote, they will put us in jail and torture us. We've run away so that we don't have to vote," Iang Za Kim explained.
Civilian Accounts of Military Brutality
Elderly resident Ral Uk Thang, forced to flee his home at 80 years old, spent days in makeshift jungle shelters before reaching relative safety. "We're afraid of our own government. They are extremely cruel. Their military has come into our and other villages in the past, they've arrested people, tortured them, and burned down homes," he said.
Reporting conditions within Myanmar are severely restricted, as the military government, which seized power in a February 2021 coup, limits access for foreign journalists. The regime faces widespread condemnation for a repressive rule that has indiscriminately targeted civilians in its effort to suppress nationwide armed resistance.
Targeting of Civilian Infrastructure
Human rights organizations report that the military's campaign has extended to civilian sites. The Chin Human Rights Organisation states that since mid-September, at least three schools and six churches in Chin State have been hit by junta airstrikes, resulting in 12 fatalities, including six children. In a separate incident last week, the military targeted a hospital in neighboring Rakhine State; rebel groups there report at least 30 killed and over 70 injured.
Bawi Nei Lian, displaced for the second time with his young family, expressed the profound difficulty of their situation. "I can't find the words to explain how painful and hard it is and what a difficult decision it was to make to leave. But we had to do it to stay alive," he said.
Widespread Distrust of the Electoral Process
The upcoming election is viewed with deep skepticism by displaced civilians and opposition groups. They argue the process is neither free nor fair, particularly as the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party that won landslides in the two pre-coup elections, is barred from participating. Most of its senior leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, are imprisoned.
"I want the world to know that what the military is claiming – that this election is free and fair – this is absolutely false. When the main political party is not being allowed to contest the election, how can there be genuine democracy?" questioned Bawi Nei Lian.
Ral Uk Thang echoed this sentiment: "We don't want the election. Because the military does not know how to govern our country... When Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's party was in power, we experienced a bit of democracy. But now all we do is cry and shed tears." Iang Za Kim fears electoral fraud: "If we voted for a party not allied with the military, I believe they will steal our votes and claim we voted for them."
Rebel Perspective on the Conflict
At a base of the Chin National Front, the state's most prominent rebel group, Vice Chairman Sui Khar dismissed the election as a tool to entrench military rule. "This election is only being held to prolong military dictatorship. It's not about the people's choice. And in Chin State, they hardly control much area, so how can they hold an election?" he argued.
He described intense ongoing combat, with hundreds of soldiers supported by airstrikes, artillery, and drones advancing from four directions into northern Chin State. In the past month alone, nearly 50 rebel fighters have been injured, with an unconfirmed number of deaths.
The base's hospital reveals the human cost of the conflict. Injured fighters, many of whom were schoolboys during the 2021 coup, now endure severe wounds. Si Si Maung, 19, lost a leg to a landmine during a battle. "I've lost a leg, but even if I've to give up my life I'm happy to make the sacrifice so that future generations have a better life," he said.
Despite the ferocity of the junta's offensive, rebel resolve remains strong, fueled by the support of thousands of young recruits. Yet, for elderly civilians like Ral Uk Thang, hope is tempered by realism. "But I don't think I will live to see democracy restored in Myanmar," he concluded. "I hope my children and grandchildren can witness it some day."
