In a show of continued strength against the junta, resistance forces entered Ngape Town in Minbu District of Magway Region in the early hours of April 5 and conducted a show-of-force operation, according to a spokesperson for the Chinland Defence Force–Asho (CDF-Asho).

On April 5, CDF-Asho troops led by Commander Viper raided the township education office and the junta-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) office in Ngape Town, and conducted patrols throughout the town, according to the group’s spokesperson, Salai Rochin.

“We carried out a show-of-force operation to remind the public that the current rulers remain the same old guard of the coup regime. Even if the junta has shifted from a sham election to a civilian administration and slightly eased its oppression, it still does not reflect the will of the people. That’s why we conducted this operation in the town—to demonstrate that junta rule is not over,” he told Chin World.

“Another reason was to show the public that we remain close to the people. Some believe resistance fighters are hiding deep in the jungles, far from communities. We carried out this show-of-force to demonstrate that we are nearby. In other words, it was not a combat operation, but a mission to declare our presence,” he added.

No fighting broke out as CDF-Asho troops entered the town. Junta forces are currently positioned in the southern part of the town, while CDF-Asho is deployed in the north.

CDF-Asho is an armed resistance group operating in areas predominantly inhabited by the Chin ethnic Asho communities in Magway Region.