Chin people who fled their homes in Chin State due to fighting between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army (AA) are being forced to return to their homes by 289 Infantry Battalion.
The 289 Battalion Commander spoke individually to villagers from Pyin-So village, in the P-Chaung area of Platwa Township, Chin State on 13 May and told them to go home. The villagers dare not defy the commander’s orders.
However, the villagers will face problems gaining their livelihoods when they return as they have been unable to burn their land to clear it, which meant they were unable to plant their seeds in time, meaning they will have no crops, income or work.
Another threat to the villagers’ security is that both forces planted landmines to the west of the P-Chaung Stream. They have also been forcing villagers to act as guides for them. These sorts of problems mean that the villagers do not want to return.
Prominent local residents from Platwa Township have written to the Township Administrator on behalf of the villagers asking him to allow the villagers to continue staying in Long-Tin Village, in Qway-Thoung Village-Tract, where they are currently sheltering.
At present there are 365 people from 62 Pyin-So Village households sheltering in Long-Tin Village. Of those people 111 are students.
Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI
