The Chin Theater is one of the theaters of the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), with resistance forces fighting against the Tatmadaw military junta in Chin State, western Myanmar.
Background Chin State is the least-developed region of Myanmar, located in the far west of the country, bordering India. It is home to the Chin peoples, a predominately Christian ethnic group.
Paletwa, situated in southern Chin State, has experienced conflict earlier than other towns in the region. Since 2019, the Arakan Army (AA) has engaged in multiple armed clashes with the Myanmar military, as part of the Conflict in Rakhine State (2016–present). During the conflict, the military imposed an internet shutdown in Paletwa, which has remained in effect since then.
Prelude After the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, people from Chin State were particularly active in anti-coup protests. Days after the beginning of the 2021 Kalay clashes on 28 March 2021, resistance groups in Chin State formed the Chinland Defense Forces on 4 April 2021 to defend civilians from the Tatmadaw's violent crackdowns against protestors. Similarly, the Chin National Organization (CNO), along with its armed wing, the Chin National Defense Force (CNDF), was established on 13 April 2021.
Timeline
2021
On 26 April 2021, the Battle of Mindat became the first large-scale conflict arising from the 2021 coup. As a response, the junta cut off food and water supplies and declared martial law. More than 10,000 people have left Mindat in southern Chin State as the Myanmar military started an all-out operation to quell an armed revolt headed by local citizens. Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor reported that the Myanmar military used cluster munitions bombs in Mindat.
In late May 2021, the Chin-State based Chin National Front became the first ethnic armed organization to formally ally with the National Unity Government of Myanmar in the fight against the junta.
On 19 September 2021, clashes broke out in Thantlang when Chin National Army (CNA) and CDF-Thantlang launched an attack on a junta base, reportedly killing around 30 soldiers. In response, junta forces killed a Christian leader who tried to put out a fire. A month later, they returned and burned down two churches and at least 164 homes. The battle also leads to the exodus of thousands of residents as early as September 2021. Over 10,000 Thantlang residents fled the town, seeking refuge in the countryside and the neighboring Indian state of Mizoram.
CDF Paletwa carried out its first attack against junta soldiers in November 2021.Resistance fighters in southern Chin’s Paletwa launch first attacks against junta soldiers November 15, 2021. Myanmar Now.
2022
In January 2022, tensions escalated between the military regime troops and the joint local forces (CNA, Chin National Defence Force, CDF Siyin, CDF KKG, PDF Zoland, PDF Kalay, Zomi PDF, Zogam Army) in Taingen village, Tedim, a strategic point on the road of Kalay-Tedim and Kalay-Falam, which also served as an entry point to Chin State from Sagaing. On 12 January, the junta's transportation units advanced to the village from Kalay to deliver military supplies to its troops. The next day, on 13 January, clashes broke out. The regime faced severe setbacks and fired heavy weapons from Kalay University while deploying air support. Consequently, over 1000 residents of Taingen and nearby villages, including Mualpi, Khai Kam, and Theizang, were displaced. The joint defense forces claimed an estimated 75 junta forces were killed. The battle lasted for over 10 days, and the joint forces eventually retreated due to inadequate weaponry.
As of May 2022, active fighting was taking place in eight of the nine townships of Chin State. In September 2022, the Chin National Army claimed that around 70% of the state was under the control of resistance forces.
By November 2022, much of Thantlang had been burned down.
2023
On 10 and 12 January 2023, Myanmar Air Force carried out airstrikes with one Yak-130 and two MiG-29 targeting Camp Victoria, CNA's headquarters, near the India-Myanmar border. Five CNA soldiers were killed, at least 10 were injured, and some buildings were damaged. The air attacks violated Indian airspace and soil, according to the CNF, local Mizo organizations, and the international research and advocacy organization Fortify Rights. The Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO) states that at least 200 Chin refugees crossed the border later the week following the airstrikes by Myanmar Army.
CDF Matupi engaged in attacks near Paletwa Township. On 23 and 24 March 2023, CDF Matupi and CNA attacked junta's convoy on the Matupi-Paletwa road, and claimed 13 soldiers were killed. CDF Paletwa assured that on 15 March 2023, Assam Rifles entered Paletwa township and fired gunshots. However, the Assam Rifles denied, saying its soldiers were engaged in “routine border point verification inside the Indian territory."
On 10 April 2023, Webula town, situated about 20 miles away from Falam town experienced an attack by Myanmar Air Force. The attack followed the seizure of the Var military camp by the CNDF earlier that day. The town was targeted along with Var village and Kyaung Hel village. This assault resulted in the deaths of at least nine civilians, while many others sustained injuries due to the airstrikes. Among the casualties were individuals near a school and a football field where fighter jet shells exploded. The airstrikes caused extensive damage to five civilian houses.
In May 2023, the first clash in Paletwa after the coup broke out between AA and the Myanmar military.
More than 100 battles had occurred in Chin State between July and November 2022, reported The Diplomat. The conflict between AA and the Myanmar military ended in Paletwa after both parties agreed to a temporary cease-fire with Yōhei Sasakawa's intermediary.
The first clash in Tonzang, located in northern Chin State, took place on 1 August 2023. The CDFs (CDF Hualngoram, Tonzang CDF, and PDA), along with the CNA, attacked Tonzang Police Station. The fight continued until 2 August and resulted in the death of one CDF soldier and a civilian man, forcing nearby residents to flee.
On 14 November 2023, the Arakan Army-Tatmadaw ceasefire was breached after the AA, along with its alliance, launched the Operation 1027. The Arakan Army attacked the military's outposts in Paletwa township, and the military deployed air strikes and heavy artillery fire, leading to ongoing and intense fighting.
On the morning of 13 November 2023, after two days of fighting, the Chin National Army and the local CDFs forces seized the Myanmar Army's border guard outpost in Rikhawdar, Falam Township, a hub for border trade with India. The junta responded with air assaults using a jet fighter. Al Jazeera reported more than 5000 people from Rihkhawdar and nearby villages fled to Mizoram, India. A total of 43 Myanmar soldiers crossed the India-Myanmar border and sought refuge from the Indian police. They were handed to the Myanmar officials by the Indian authorities through Moreh-Tamu border. Two days later, residents who had fled to India returned, marking the town as the first in Chin State under the control of the resistance forces.
On 15 November 2023, the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF), the armed wing of the Chin National Organization (CNO), a Chin nationalist political organization, captured a Myanmar Military camp at Tibual village near the border with Mizoram, India. This action led to 29 Myanmar soldiers fleeing towards the neighboring Indian state of Mizoram. On the same day, eleven civilians, including eight children, were killed in a Myanmar Air Force airstrike in Vuilu village of Matupi Township, Southern Chin State. After the attack, the junta cut off mobile phone communications. Residents reported that there was no battle and CDF Matupi claimed that the attack deliberately targeted civilians.
2024 On 12 January 2024, the junta base at Taingen was attacked by the CNA, Civic Defense Militia, and the CDF. The base was being defended by 12 soldiers and 18 police officers. Fighting lasted for five days until 16 January, and involved junta forces shelling and using airstrikes against the attacking EAOs from their position in Kalay. The EAOs, however, killed the majority of the junta forces using drone bombs. According to Salai Lian Bawi, spokesman of the Chin National Front, the joint Chin force had repeatedly phoned the junta forces to surrender, however they refused and all died. Casualties on the Chin's side were a total of eight - one for the CNA, and seven for the CDF. The joint force also suffered the loss of four drones, each worth around 90 million kyat.
After launching an offensive on the town in December 2023, the Chin Brotherhood Alliance (CBA), with aid from other Chin groups and the Arakan Army, captured the strategic town of Kyindwe in southern Chin State on 2 May. On 16 May, several Chin resistance groups, including the CBA member Zoland Defense Force, launched an offensive to capture Tonzang from the junta and its allied Zomi Revolutionary Army. By 20 May, Chin resistance captured most of Tonzang and neighboring Cikha from the junta. The next day, Chin resistance captured all of Tonzang and began pursuing retreating junta soldiers. On 27 May, the Chin Brotherhood Alliance launched an offensive to capture neighboring Tedim, capturing a junta base the following day. On 30 May, CDF-Matupi captured the township's district administrative office on the Matupi-Hakha road.
On 31 May, the Daai Local Council announced that local defense forces in Kanpetlet, Matupi, Mindat, and Paletwa Township's had agreed to form the Chinland Defence Force – Daai. The council also stated that the 4 townships would be united into 1 administrative area under its governance, and that a constitution for the Daai Chin would be written.
In May 2024, hostilities erupted between the Zomi Revolutionary Army and Chin National Army in Tedim Township, Chin State, leading to significant concerns within the community. Recognizing the detrimental impact of such conflicts on the broader resistance movement, ZORO intervened to broker peace. By late May, Zo Reunification Organization (ZORO) had successfully initiated reconciliation efforts between the ZRA's Eastern Command and the CNA, aiming to establish a ceasefire and promote unity among the Zo people.
On 9 June, the Chin Brotherhood Alliance, alongside the Arakan Army and the Magway-based Yaw Army, began attacking Matupi. 4 days later, Chin resistance officially announced the beginning of "Operation Chin Brotherhood" to capture the town. The same day, Chin resistance announced that they had captured the town's police station and administrative offices, leading junta forces to retreat to bases north and south of the town. On 16 June, junta forces from Tedim launched an offensive to recapture positions along the Tedim-Kalay road, recapturing Kennedy Peak from the Zomi Federal Union by 18 June. After the outpost's capture, junta forces began launching raids on surrounding villages. On 20 June, junta forces recaptured the strategically important Taingen village. Both Kennedy Peak and Taingen village were recaptured by Chinland Council-led forces by 27 June, with junta forces retreating to Khaing Kham.