An interview with Salai Htet Ni, Spokesperson of the CNF
Since the early October, 2021, the military council has been conducting a huge offensive named “Anawrahta operation” in Chin State by sending its troops from Kalay of Sagaing Region and Kyaukhtu of Magway Region to China mountain. However, the Chinland Defense Forces (CDFs) got advantages in the battles thanks to the geographical location while the military council suffered heavy losses in the ground battles. In addition to the ground offensives, the military council has increased airstrikes in 2023.
The military council is carrying out huge offensives on Chin mountain using both the ground troops and jet fighters. The military council troops which ascended Hakha via Kalay on 7 March, are stationed in Chunkyone village before entering Hakha. Now fighting continues between the military council and the CDFs. Likewise, there is intense fighting between the CDFs and the military council troops which ascend Hakha via Gangaw and between Hakha-Thantlang.
The Khonumthung Media Group (KMG) interviewed Salai Htet Ni, Spokesperson of the Chin National Front (CNF) about the latest situations in Chin State.
Q: Can you explain the latest situation about the fighting between the military council and Chinland Defense Forces in Chin State?
A: It can be said that fighting is taking place in Hakha strategic ground in northern Chin State. Fighting is taking place in three places there. First, the military convoy which left Kalay remains in Chunkyone village before entering Hakha. That convoy covers around 30 soldiers. It has been around two weeks fighting is taking place between the CNF and the military council which ascends the Hakha strategic hill via Gangaw, between Hakha-Gangaw. At dawn on 26 April, we captured a small outpost near Thimit Bridge between Hakha and Thantlang. One CNF member was killed and three others wounded in the battle. The military’s casualties are still unknown. However, we seized at least three guns and bullets. There are two small outposts. At that time, jet fighters flew twice. That’s why we withdrew.
Q: Did the CNF capture the military council’s Thimit camp?
A: This is one of three outposts of the military council. After we captured this outpost, the remaining outposts are no longer safe according to the military situation. They are in a position to withdraw from the outpost.
Q: The military council troops which advance Hakah via Kalay have not arrived in Kalay yet. Are they stationed in Chunkyone village? May I know the situation as fighting continues there?
A: Yes. They no longer advance Hakha. Sometimes, the army sends reinforcements via Hakha. So, they are stranded. I can’t say whether they are stationed there or not. I think the army is planning to transport a damaged tank to Hakha with a 12-wheeler truck. They stay inside the village and do not go outside. Both armed groups are stationed in the east and west. Sometimes we carried out sniper attacks on them.
Q: Like the battle in Chunkyone between Hakha and Falam, it has been around two weeks since the military council troops advanced Hakha from Gangaw Township of Magway Region. Can you tell me about the battle situation there?
A: The military troop which ascended Hakha via Gangaw is Light Infantry Division (LID)-77. It is not like the past. In the past, the military council’s divisions ascended Hakha separately. Now, LID-77 alone ascends Hakha. According to my estimate, the military column is composed of around 200 soldiers. As far as I know the military council sent LID-77 to the war-torn area as a special force. It takes three days between Hakha-Gangaw. However, it takes around two weeks. Until now, the military column has not arrived in Hakha.
Q: Yes, now where do they (military council) arrive?
A: They are near Lonekywe village. It is very far from Hakha.
Q: May I know the casualties on both sides as fighting is intensifying between Hakha and Gangaw?
A: Two members from the CNF were killed and no one wounded. However, ten junta soldiers were killed and six others wounded. We shot them as they entered our shooting target.
Q: Division-77 is notorious for its military operations. Why does the army send such a notorious division to Hakha on the Chin mountain ranges?
A: The main point is the army conducted airstrikes using jet fighters as its ground battles are not effective. So, it is assumed that the army sent Division-77 due to it. The army does not achieve success in the ground battles as much as it expected. It can be said that we have succeeded.
Q: The military council is carrying out constant attacks using jet fighters. Last month, the military council bombed civilian villages in Khwarpho village in Thantlang and Waibula. The army bombed Station-1 in Mindat. Now the army again bombed Talanlo village in Thantlang. It is found that the military council is attacking more civilian targets. May I know your comment on it?
A: Martial law was first imposed on Chin mountain ranges. Min Aung Hlaing warned that stern action would be taken against the organizations like us, which are affiliated with the National Unity Government (NUG). The army is torturing the public who is assumed to support us. It is a very cruel act. As part of the “four cuts’ strategy, the military council threatens the public to distance us from the public and have a negative view on us. The military council is torturing the public in order to bar the public from attacking it. In fact, the army’s forces are said to be weak in the ground battles as the army uses jet fighters. So, the military council turns to airstrikes as a last resort.
Sent by KMG