November 11, 2022
The Chin National Front (CNF) has stated that the military council has changed its military strategies and is using more artillery support and may carry out more airstrikes in Chin State, where the military situation is tense.
Overall, the military council has been less aggressive this year than last year, but it has changed strategy and conducted more artillery shelling and airstrikes, CNF spokesman Salai Htet Ni said.
“Compared to last year, the junta’s offensives in Chin State have decreased this year. They’ve conducted fewer military operations in the southern part of the state. Last year, they conducted operations in the south, north and Matupi. They even tried to overrun the strategic hill of Hakha with a large number of troops, but this year is different. Currently, they seem to have chosen the northern part as their main target. Overall, they’ve slowed down their military activities,” he said.
“I don’t know if their strength has weakened. Unlike before, they’ve used more heavy weapons now. Maybe it’s because we’re firing at them from a distance of only 20 or 30 feet, but it’s difficult for us to conduct such close combat. They’ve used more heavy weapons. But after the rainy season, they tend to use fighter jets. Just on Tuesday, we saw a reconnaissance plane circling overhead. It’s likely that they’ll use more aircraft. As for ground forces, the military council may have been weakened. We can say that,” the CNF spokesman said.
A military council reconnaissance plane flew over Camp Victoria, the CNF headquarters, on November 2. This came after the junta bombed A Nang Pa village in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, from the air.
After the junta’s plane appeared, photos were leaked on social media showing that the military council was planning to attack Camp Victoria.
In recent days, the military council frequently flew fighter jets in Chin State and bombed an area in the Timit Plain between Hakha and Thantlang with two fighter jets.
CNF spokesman Salai Htet Ni said the CNF had prepared in advance for the military council to carry out airstrikes.
“We’re as prepared as possible because the fighter jets have even approached our headquarters. They’ll open fire on us when they come. We’ve prepared our best to fight back. Geographically, even with planes in the mountainous areas of Chin State, they can’t cause many casualties. It’s not possible for them to inflict casualties on the ethnic forces just by using aircraft. We’re well prepared,” he said.
Fighting between junta troops and ethnic resistance forces is a recurring occurrence in Chin State, especially near the Timit Plain between Hakha and Thantlang.
Sent by KMG.