The anti-regime Chin Brotherhood said it is stepping up attacks on junta bases in Matupi, southern Chin State, after forcing a rival Chin alliance out of the conflict zone.
The group launched Operation Chin Brotherhood on June 9 to drive junta troops out of Myanmar’s poorest state, which borders Bangladesh and India. The Arakan Army and Yaw Army from Magwe Region joined the operation.
The alliance includes the Zomi Federal Union, Chin National Organization, Mindat Chin National Council, Maraland and Kampelet Chin Defense Forces (CDF), and Matupi CDF Brigade 1.
The alliance seized the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 304 headquarters on June 17. It was attacking Infantry Battalion 140 when it was allegedly attacked from behind by rival Chinland Council troops.
The two groups reportedly clashed on June 18 and Chinland Council troops were forced to retreat on Monday, said the Chin Brotherhood.
The Chinland Council was formed in December with more than 100 members, including the Chin National Army (CNA), ousted Chin MPs and anti-regime administrative organizations. The CNA was formed in 1988, saying it wanted a federal democracy to guarantee ethnic equality.
The formation of the CNA-led Chinland Council split the state’s anti-regime forces into two major groups with separate campaigns against the junta.
Matupi Township also has a split in the Chinland Defense Force with Brigade 1 joining the Chin Brotherhood and Brigade 2 aligned to the Chinland Council.
The Chin Brotherhood said it seized Kyin Dwe town in Kanpetlet Township and Infantry Battalion 140 in Matupi and is attacking outposts guarding the junta’s hilltop tactical command base in Matupi.
Chin Brotherhood spokesman Salai Ha Awn said: “We don’t need to worry about the risk of being attacked from behind. We have cut them off and can step up our offensive against junta positions.”
Light Infantry Battalion 304 supplies Battalion 140 and the Matupi base, said military defector Kaung Thu Win, a former captain.
“Battalion 140 is adjacent to the command headquarters on the Hakha-Matupi road and Battalion 304 is on the Matupi-Paletwa road and oversees Matupi,” he said.
The Chin Brotherhood seized a howitzer from Battalion 304. Kaung Thu Win said the regime installed howitzers at its larger bases.
“The tactical command in Matupi has two howitzers. Battalions 304 and 274 in Mindat both have one too,” said Kaung Thu Win.
Light Infantry Battalion 274 from Mindat is also based in Matupi, which defends other southern Chin State towns, including Kanpetlet and Mindat. The AA seized Paletwa Township in southern Chin State in January.
A Mindat resident said if Matupi fell it would eliminate the junta’s threat from the west while anti-regime groups attacked towns like Mindat and Kanpetlet, exposing Sagaing and Magwe regions in the east to attack.
CNA spokesman Salai Htet Ni last week said CNA troops fighting Infantry Battalion 140 and the hilltop base in Matupi were disrupted by the Chin Brotherhood led by the AA.
Salai Ha Awn said: “Chin National Army troops may return. Clashes can happen again if they return to Matupi.” Both sides suffered casualties while fighting each other last week, delaying the offensive on junta positions, he said.
