THOUSANDS of residents of a hill town in northwest Myanmar were hiding in jungles, villages and valleys on Monday after fleeing an assault by state troops, witnesses said, as the army advanced into the town after days battling local militias.
Mindat, about 100 km (60 miles) from the Indian border in Chin state, has seen some of the most intense fighting since a Feb. 1 coup that has led to the emergence of ragtag local armies that are stifling the junta's bid to consolidate power.
Martial law was declared in Mindat on Thursday before the army launched its assault, using artillery and helicopters against a newly formed Chinland Defence Force, a militia armed mainly with hunting rifles, which said it had pulled back to spare civilians from being caught in the crossfire.
Several residents reached by Reuters said food was in short supply and estimated as many as 5,000 to 8,000 people had fled the town, with roads blocked and the presence of troops in the streets preventing their return.
"Almost everyone left the city," said a volunteer fighter who said she was in a jungle. "Most of them are in hiding."
A representative of the local people's administrative group of Mindat said he was among some 200 people, including women and children, who had trekked across rocky roads and hills carrying blankets, rice and cooking pots.
He said the group was attacked with heavy weapons when troops spotted smoke from their cooking fires.
"We have to move from one place to another. We cannot settle in a place in the jungle," he told Reuters by phone.
"Some men were arrested as they went into town to get more food for us. We cannot get into town currently. We are going to starve in few days."
The Chinland Defence Forces in a statement on Monday said it had killed five government troops in Hakha, another town in Chin State.
The United Nations children's fund UNICEF in a tweet urged security forces to ensure safety of children in Mindat, the latest international call for restraint after human rights groups, the United States and Britain condemned the use of war weapons against civilians.
MULTIPLE FRONTS
The United States, Britain and Canada on Monday announced more sanctions against businesses and individuals tied to the junta. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged more countries to follow suit.
Myanmar has been in chaos since the coup, with the military battling armed and peaceful resistance on multiple fronts, adding to concerns about economic collapse and a humanitarian crisis from old conflicts reigniting in border regions.
The fighters in Chin State say they are part of the People's Defence Forces of the shadow government, which has called on the international community for help.
In an effort to coordinate the anti-junta forces, the shadow government on Monday issued a list of instructions to all the civilian armies, which it said must operate under its command and control.
Aid groups in direct contact with residents of Mindat made urgent calls on social media on Monday for donations or food, clothing and medicine.
Salai, 24, who has been organising an emergency response, said she had spoken to people hiding in a valley and on farmland who had fled the advance of soldiers.
"They looted people's property. They burned down people's houses. It is really upsetting," said Salai.
"Some in the town were injured by gunshots, including a young girl. She cannot get medical treatment."
A military spokesman did not answer calls or messages seeking comment.
In its nightly news bulletin, state-run MRTV said security forces returned fire after coming under attack from insurgents in Mindat, who fled, and that government troops had been attacked elsewhere in Chin State.
So far, 790 people have been killed in the junta's crackdown on its opponents, according to the activist group the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
The military disputes that figure. Reuters cannot independently verify arrests and casualty numbers.
The military says it intervened after its complaints of fraud in a November election won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party were ignored.
An international monitoring group on Monday said the results of that election "were, by and large, representative of the will of the people of Myanmar".
Reuters
Tue May 18 2021
The army advanced into the town after days battling local militias. Filepic/REUTERS
Putin puji hubungan Rusia dengan Iran
Putin juga memberi jaminan akan memastikan hubungan baik dengan republik itu berterusan.
Agong, Raja Permaisuri zahir ucapan Selamat Hari Wesak
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim menzahirkan ucapan selamat Hari Wesak kepada semua penganut agama Buddha di negara ini.
Penganut agama Buddha sambut Hari Wesak hari ini
Hari Wesak disambut dengan menyalakan colok dan lilin berbentuk bunga teratai, menabur bunga dan memandikan patung Buddha.
AWANI Ringkas: PM hadiri Persidangan Nikkei
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Kimberly tinggalkan skuad terjun pada usia 22 tahun
Ia jelas menimbulkan banyak pertanyaan tentang punca sebenar mengumumkan keputusan itu.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [22 Mei 2024]
Antara fokus Awani Pagi bersama Azib Zikry & Farhan Hakimi
Kerajaan setuju laksana penyasaran subsidi bahan api diesel
Video tular memasak di stesen minyak: Empat individu mengaku salah
Penumpang SIA meninggal dunia selepas pesawat alami gelora udara
Kerajaan setuju laksana penyasaran subsidi bahan api diesel
Video tular memasak di stesen minyak: Empat individu mengaku salah
Penumpang SIA meninggal dunia selepas pesawat alami gelora udara
WHO gesa Israel tarik balik sekatan bantuan ke Gaza
Saluran utama untuk bantuan perubatan ke enklaf dari Mesir telah terputus.
Serangan Balai Polis Ulu Tiram: Dua tangkapan dibebas tanpa syarat
Tangkapan yang dibebaskan ialah seorang lelaki dan seorang wanita yang merupakan pelajar IPT yang ditangkap pada hari kejadian.
Pelbagai sektor sumbang pertumbuhan ekonomi Kuala Lumpur muncul bandar raya terhebat
Bidang penting lain antaranya pembuatan, teknologi dan perkhidmatan turut berperanan sebagai penyumbang pertumbuhan ekonomi di Kuala Lumpur.
PBB rancang laluan baharu selepas bantuan jeti terhenti di Gaza
Ramai penduduk Palestin yang terdesak memerlukan bantuan memintas trak dan menyebabkan penghantaran terhenti secara berterusan.
Konflik Myanmar: ASEAN tegas kepentingan laksana Konsensus Lima Perkara
ASEAN tegaskan semula komitmen bantu Myanmar cari penyelesaian dengan mewujudkan persekitaran kondusif melalu pelaksanaan Konsensus Lima Perkara.
Menteri luar ASEAN gesa henti segera keganasan di sempadan Myanmar
Menteri luar ASEAN menggesa semua pihak menghentikan segera keganasan dan melaksanakan sekatan sepenuhnya di kawasan sempadan Myanmar.
ASEAN: Saifuddin gesa Malaysia lebih proaktif tangani isu Myanmar
Usaha proaktif akan membolehkan Malaysia membentuk persekitaran yang aman dan inklusif dalam rantau ASEAN.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Pemegang kad UNHCR edar dadah di pasar borong
Kegiatan geng warga Myanmar edar dadah di pasar borong untuk kegunaan rakan senegara mereka berjaya dibongkar polis menerusi serbuan di Taman Sri Kuching, di sini pada Selasa.
Bangladesh hantar pulang 330 warga Myanmar
Bangladesh menghantar pulang kira-kira 330 warga Myanmar yang mencari perlindungan di negara itu, di tengah-tengah konflik di sempadan.
Terpengaruh iklan kerja gaji lumayan, pemuda jadi mangsa scammer
Seorang pemuda dari Rawang didera dan dipaksa menjadi 'scammer' atau penipu wang pelaburan kripto suatu sindiket beroperasi di Myawaddy, Myanmar.
Menteri Luar India, Bangladesh bincang situasi di Myanmar
Menteri Luar India dan Bangladesh mengadakan perbincangan berhubung situasi di Myanmar.
Lebih ramai Rohingya lari ke Bangladesh susulan pertempuran etnik di Myanmar
Ramai telah menyeberang ke kem pelarian Rohingya di tenggara Cox's Bazar yang menempatkan kira-kira 1.2 juta komuniti Islam dari Myanmar.
Korea Selatan, AS dan beberapa negara kutuk kekejaman tentera Myanmar
Korea Selatan, Amerika Syarikat dan beberapa negara lain menggesa tentera Myanmar segera menghentikan semua keganasan terhadap orang awam.