Heavy fighting erupts as junta columns close in on Chin State’s Falam

Chin resistance forces launched coordinated attacks on Myanmar junta troops in Chin State as the military pressed a two-pronged ground offensive to retake the town of Falam, with heavy fighting reported and December 11, resistance sources said. The junta has intensified its offensive to retake Falam in order to include it in its planned election zones, launching full-scale operations from late October, sources said. Junta troops advancing from southern Kalay along the Kalay–Gangaw road via Webula village and from southwestern Kalay along the Kalay–Tedim road through Taingen village have entered Falam Township in a fresh assault, which is being jointly resisted by the Chin Brotherhood, Chinland Council and People’s Defense Forces. "Both columns are getting quite close to Falam," Salai Timmy Htut, spokesperson for the Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) told Myanmar Now. He added that the junta column advancing from Webula town is engaged in intense fighting near Sumhrang village, southeast of Falam, and the junta is fiercely defending with air support, according to Chin resistance forces. "Now the fighting is happening daily,” said Salai Htet Ni, spokesperson for the Chin National Army (CNA). “Yesterday, it went on almost the whole day. As far as we know, the fighting is quite intense. Even Y-12 aircraft dropped about 50 to 60 bombs.”Falam Township, home to junta Infantry Battalion 268, fell to Chin resistance forces in April after months of fighting, and resistance groups say they are now working to hold the town as the junta presses forward.During the clashes on December 11, the junta reportedly suffered heavy losses and nearly 30 weapons were seized by Chin resistance forces. Sources say that the junta column advancing through Tedim has now reached Falam Township."We are in a defensive position, doing our best to hold the town we've already captured,” said Salai Timmy Htut. “We're trying to defend this area to the very end,"In Chin State, where resistance forces control much of the territory, the junta now holds only limited areas, including the state capital Hakha, Tedim and Thantlang. The Chinland Council controls Tonzang in the north, while the Chin Brotherhood holds several southern townships, including Falam, Matupi, Mindat and Kanpetlet, and its ally, the Arakan Army, controls Paletwa on the Rakhine border. Unable to hold elections across most resistance-held areas, the junta plans to stage voting in northern townships, with a first phase scheduled for late December in Hakha and Tedim, and a possible final phase that could include Falam, Tonzang and Thantlang, according junta statements. The Union Election Commission has not announced a date for the third phase of elections, but it is expected to be held in late January, based on the commission’s plan to complete voting by the end of the month in two-week intervals. In the first phase, elections in Hakha and Tedim will be limited to town wards, with voting cancelled across dozens of surrounding village tracts, election officials said. The announcement of territories where elections cannot be held highlights the junta’s territorial control being limited to only town centre wards in these towns. In Chin State, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, People's Pioneer Party, New Chinland Congress Party, Zomi National Party, and Khumi National Party will field 83 candidates competing for three legislative houses, the Union Election Commission has announced. In Tedim, among the competing parties, only the USDP and Zomi National Party have confirmed campaign activities."Those two parties can operate in Tedim town,” a representative from the resistance Tedim Township People's Administration Organization (PAO) said. “For now, their activities are mainly putting up campaign banners. They can't hold big talk shows yet.” Salai Htet Ni pointed out that although Thantlang, which is only about 20 miles from Hakha, has been included in the election areas, the entire town has been abandoned for over two years. And with both the junta and resistance forces positioned in the town, there is no practical scenario where elections could be held in Thantlang. Weapons and ammunition seized by Chin resistance forces during clashes with junta troops near Falam town in Chin State. (Photo: Supplied) He added that while there are currently no junta advances toward Thantlang as Chin resistance forces control the territory between the two towns. But if the regime does decide to launch an attack, it would result in intense fighting and further displacement. "Thantlang has no prospects whatsoever,” Salai Htet Ni said. “Mainly in Thantlang town, both the junta forces and our groups are there. So there are no civilians at all.” Elections are not currently possible in Falam or Tonzang due to ongoing conflict, though advance votes could be collected from displaced residents of Falam, Tonzang and Thantlang, Salai Htet Ni said."In Tonzang, they have no activity,” Salai Htet Ni said. “But since they're holding a fraudulent, fake election, they're doing things like advance voting for Tonzang locals wherever they are.” Chin resistance forces and other resistance groups have condemned the junta’s planned elections, reiterating their opposition to any vote held under military control. "The election is something the junta is creating to legitimise itself in Myanmar's political landscape,” Salai Htet Ni said. “But this poses a long-term danger to our politics. They're attempting to make the military-political situation more complicated. That's why, whatever they do, we will oppose them to the fullest extent.” According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at least 100,000 people from Chin State have been displaced since the coup. The lack of security, mass displacement and limited voting areas have fueled opposition to the junta’s election plans.To conclude, Salai Htet Ni was blunt about the junta’s plans to hold elections in Chin: He said that in both Hakha and Thantlang towns, “everyone has fled.”“No matter how they schedule the election, in this current situation, they won't succeed.”

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