In brief
In a devastating turn of events, civilians in Myanmar, particularly those from Chin State, are caught in a cycle of violence as military air strikes escalate ahead of elections set for December. Many have fled to safer areas, including across the border into India, fearing for their safety and the pressure to vote in what they believe to be a sham election orchestrated by the junta. Eyewitness accounts reveal the trauma inflicted by military actions, with families now grappling with homelessness and uncertainty about their future.
Late one night last month, Iang Za Kim heard explosions in a neighbouring village, then fighter jets flying overhead. She ran out of her home to see smoke rising from a distance.
We were terrified. We thought the junta's planes would bomb us too. So we grabbed what we could – some food and clothes and ran into the jungles surrounding our village, she recalls, clearly shaken by the events of November 26 in K-Haimual, her village in Myanmar's western Chin State.
Thousands of civilians, like Iang, have fled their homes in recent weeks as the Burmese military launched a fierce campaign of air strikes and ground offensives across the country, aiming to recapture territories before an election on December 28.
While air strikes prompted immediate flights, many civilians fear being forced to participate in the elections. If we are caught and refuse to vote, they will put us in jail and torture us. We've run away so that we don't have to vote, Iang stated.
The recent offensive by the junta is described by eyewitnesses as one of the fiercest in three years. Those displaced include elderly individuals, such as 80-year-old Ral Uk Thang, who expressed the continued threat from military forces: We're afraid of our own government. They are extremely cruel. Those who manage to escape often seek refuge in other states or across borders into India, facing terrifying circumstances dictated by the military regime.
In hospitals catering to injured civilians and fighters, the toll of the ongoing conflict becomes evident, showcasing the grim reality faced by many in the country. The upcoming elections are viewed with skepticism, as the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, will not contest due to many of its leaders being imprisoned.
According to rebel leaders, this election is set to prolong the military's hold on power, devoid of any genuine democratic principles. Despite continued violence and loss of life, individuals like Iang Za Kim continue to strive for safety and peace, holding onto hope for a future free from tyranny.
