Over 380 Chin people including underage children and pastors were killed due to the military council’s human rights violations and atrocities during two years of coup, according to the statement by the Institute of Chin Affairs (ICA).
For the perpetuation of power, the military council committed human rights violations and various kinds of crimes against Chin ethnics Since 1 February, 2021 till February, 2023, using live guns, live bullets, heavy shells (RPG, 40 mm and 60 mm) and jet fighters, according to the ICA’s statement issued on 2 March.
According to the ICA’s data, the military council killed 383 Chin people—164 in 2021, 195 in 2022 and 24 till 28 February, 2023.
Among those killed are more than 230 Chinland Defense Force (CDF) members and more than 120 civilians. Among those killed are two infants and 24 underage children—19 males and five females. During this period, four pastors were brutally killed, the ICA said.
Salai Van Sui San, Assistant director of the ICA said: “They died in different forms. Some people died in mine explosions, rapes, human shields, airstrikes and bombings. The junta killed some people in the prisons by creating prison riots on purpose.”
The military council force committed a gang rape against four Chin women. Of four victims, they killed a 15-year-old woman, the ICA said.
The military council force killed four Christian pastors and destroyed more than 60 religious buildings in Chin State, the ICA said.
The military council force abducted 56 civilians and used them as human shields. Some hostages faced torture and killings. Following the coup, the military council arbitrarily arrested nearly 900 Chin people. They were unfairly sentenced to prisons and hard labour under the various sections, without valid evidence.
Due to the military council’s various kinds of tortures and killings, nearly 90,000 Chin people have fled for safety in the country. A total of 40,000 people are taking shelter in Mizoram State, over 15,000 in Manipur and over 10,000 in New Delhi and other States of India.
“Ethnic minorities have been experiencing the military council’s war crimes, crimes against humanity and human rights violations for many decades. Now, the military council forces are blatantly committing severe violations of human rights across the country including Chin State by using similar means following the coup. The percentage of such killings in the State where around 500,000 Chin people are residing is said to be enormous,” the ICA’s statement says.
The military council committed indiscriminate and intentional artillery shelling and intentional burning and destruction of civilian houses and religious buildings. The military council destroyed more than 4,300 houses and buildings in Chin State and in the areas where Chin ethnics are living, the ICA says.
The ICA calls on the international community to swiftly take effective action against the military council in order that the military council be held accountable and responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity and the violations of human rights committed by the military council troops.
Sent by KMG
