Fresh air strikes in Myanmar; nationals take refuge in South Mizoram

Sources said that close to a hundred refugees from Myanmar entered Kakichua and Laki areas in Saiha district in the past 48 hours.

Refugees from Myanmar are now entering southern Mizoram following fresh airstrikes by the Junta forces as weeks of intense fighting between the military and the resistance forces seeking civilian rule has shown no sign of ending.

Sources said that close to a hundred refugees from Myanmar entered Kakichua and Laki areas in Saiha district during the past 48 hours. Earlier, the refugees had entered northern Mizoram, mainly Champhai district that saw a blistering war across the village of Zowkathar.

Security sources said that they are allowing unarmed civilians to enter India as they are fleeing their country for safety reasons. The two countries have a Free Movement Regime (FMR) that allows its nationals to travel upto 16 kms in each others’ territory without travel documents.

In the past two weeks, more than 5000 refugees, including more than 70 Myanmar army personnel had fled to Mizoram to escape the fighting. Many of them including all the Junta troops have since returned to Myanmar. The soldiers had to enter India after the rebels overrun their posts and gave them a safe passage to leave.

The Chin National Defence Force, the People’s Defence Force , the Chin National Army and a conglomeration of other anti-Junta forces are working in coordinated moves to overthrow the military junta that had ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

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