The Chin National Front (CNF) expects the military regime to increase its reliance on airstrikes and has prepared to defend its headquarters in Camp Victoria against future bombardments after a surveillance plane recently flew over it in northern Chin State.

CNF spokesperson Salai Htet Ni said fighting on the ground has drastically reduced compared to last year.

In the past, many Burma Army (BA) battalions were deployed to the strategic command centres in Hakha and Matupi.

He said that while they’ve reduced some of their operations, they’ve increased their air strikes against them.

“Earlier, our troops used to fire at each other at a distance of 20 to 25 metres. They’ve got used to attacking us from a distance with artillery and I think they’ll continue using their air forces against us this year too.”

Rumours circulated on social media that BA was preparing an airstrike on the CNF’s headquarters after the surveillance plane made a flyover on 2 November, less than two weeks after junta jet fighters bombed a concert in Hpakant, Kachin State, killing scores of people.

On 7 November, two jet fighters bombed Chin resistance fighters in the Thi Mit valley between Hakha and Thangtlang townships, where regime aircrafts have been increasingly sighted in northern Chin State. Fighting in the area between the regime and resistance groups has increased so far.

“Their jet fighters flew over our headquarters and we are as prepared as possible to defend our headquarters from BA airstrikes” where the mountainous and rugged terrain of the area provides a natural protection against air attacks, said Salai Htet Ni.