7 May 2026 – More than 100 non-CDM (Non-Civil Disobedience Movement) civil servants arrived in Falam town, Chin State yesterday under the escort of State Security and Peace Commission (SSPC) military forces, in a move to restore administrative functions following the recent recapture of the town.
The deployment included personnel primarily from the education, healthcare, and general administration departments, as well as police personnel. The staff were transported from Kalay town in a large convoy utilizing over 20 vehicles and approximately 150 motorcycles.
Sources in Kalay reported that SSPC authorities pressured non-CDM staff to return to Falam under directives from senior military officials. Pro-SSPC propagandist Mr. Kyaw Soe Oo was also reportedly part of the convoy.
The effort to re-establish governance follows months of intense fighting in the Falam area, a major front in the conflict. Falam had been held by Chin resistance forces for about a year before the SSPC military recaptured the town on 25 April 2026.
Despite a reported welcoming ceremony held for the arriving personnel at the town hall, local residents noted that the deployment is taking place in a town that is largely deserted.
Much of Falam town’s civilian population has fled due to the prolonged conflict. One local source commented that there were effectively “no people to govern” in the town.
The military situation around Falam remains volatile. Recent reports indicate the SSPC suffered significant losses, including seven soldiers killed in an ambush near Falam. Across Chin State, the conflict—which has escalated sharply since the 2021 military coup—is marked by widespread insecurity and mass displacement, driving over 120,000 local residents from their homes since early 2023.
The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods, particularly for the 90% of the population that relies on farming, as fighting and movement restrictions have left vast tracts of agricultural land uncultivated.
The SSPC has increasingly depended on air power, including airstrikes and drones, due to heavy ground casualties sustained against Chin resistance groups. – Reporting by Daniel
