More villagers flee in fear of AA-Tatmadaw clashes in Paletwa

23 January 2016 — Tension between the Arakan Army and the Burma Army continues in Paletwa township, Chin State, forcing more villagers to flee their places.

At least 18 families have arrived in Lautin village after running away from their villages in fear of sporadic fighting between the two armies, according to the Chin Human Rights Organization.

A resident in Paletwa told the CHRO on condition of anonymity that skirmishes continued in the township and that the number of displaced villagers was rising.

Nearly 400 residents from Pyinso village have been taking shelter near Lautin since March last year when soldiers from the AA and the Tatmadaw exchanged fire.

Peter Lawilu, an editor of the Khumi Media Group, said that they had seen more Burma Army troops arriving in the area in recent weeks.

He said that soldiers from the Light Infantry Battalion No. 378 and No. 540 had patrolled villages including Laymyochaung and Thanhtaung and that AA members had split into smaller groups of four or five trying to keep away from them.

Lawilu confirmed that eight AA soldiers were arrested by the Tatmadaw and are now being detained at the Thanhtaung Police Station.

Last Wednesday, AA soldiers entered Laymyochaung village and extorted food from villagers.

AA soldiers had detained at least 15 people from Paletwa township for different periods of time.#