A regime military convoy travelling through southern Chin State sustained heavy losses after a series of ambushes by civilian resistance fighters.

According to a commander for the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) in Kanpetlet, over 20 soldiers of a 300-strong column travelling in 16 military trucks were killed and their arrival in Cin Dwe, Kanpetlet Township, where the regime is planning an offensive, was delayed.

CDF regiments from Kanpetlet, Dai, Hsaw and the Chin National Army ambushed the convoy over several days between Lawng Shay in Magwe Region and Cin Dwe, a distance of 23 miles, the commander said.

On 19 February, they fought twice and killed at least 6 Burma Army (BA) soldiers, he said.

Two days later, four regime fighters were killed. The next day, fighting broke out throughout the day, with the Chin resistance killing at least 11 soldiers and wounding many more.

Clashes occurred near Swelwe Cin, Maw Chaung and Yay Shawng between Lawng Shay in Magwe Region and near Cin Dwe in Kanpetlet.

“We attacked using guerrilla tactics because we don’t have enough weapons or ammunition,” he said.

After suffering heavy casualties, the BA fired artillery indiscriminately, torched four houses in Maw Chaung and looted houses in Maw Chaung and Masa Twi, stealing anything of value.

“Since no one could predict when the column would arrive, we instructed the civilians to leave their villages. After it passed, we told them it was safe to return home. But because the fighting was so fierce, they are too scared to return,” the commander said.

Residents of Masa Twi, Maw Chaung, Hlaing Dok and Htang Kon in Kanpetlet Township are still hiding in the jungle and need food and tarpaulins to protect themselves from the rain, said the Kanpetlet spokesperson for CDF.

Since last year, the regime has been conducting a major offensive against resistance fighters who took up arms in Chin State in June last year.

Although outnumbered and outgunned, they’ve killed many BA soldiers in hit-and-run military operations.