Armed conflicts between the Tatmadaw and the AA should not occur in Chin State’s Paletwa Township, Chin communities said in the press conference held in Yangon on 23 July.

Chin CSOs, activists and students said they would accept fights between the Chin National Front, that represent Chin people and the Tatmadaw, but not battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA.

“The AA and the Tatmadaw should fight in Arakan State. Why do they fight in our region? We are not pleased when we see our people affected by conflicts between other groups, and not with our people,” said Salai Aye Lee Sha Mar from an aid group for IDPs in Paletwa Township.

He added that Chin people did not become IDPs during the time the CNF and the Tatmadaw fought in Chin State and he could not accept that people from Paletwa Township have been displaced from their homes due to the conflicts between the Tatmadaw and the AA.

Local residents from Paletwa Township are now being limited to transporting food for IDPs that lack of food and health care, he said.

The number of IDPs in Paletwa Township has now reached about 4000 and 118 schools have been closed following the ongoing armed conflict between the Tatmadaw and the AA in the region.