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Junta airstrike kills 5 Chin National Front soldiers

Locals claim fighter jets entered Indian airspace and dropped a bomb on India's side of the border with Myanmar.

By RFA Burmese 2023.01.11 -- A junta military airstrike on the Chin National Front headquarters in Chin State killed five of its soldiers and injured at least 10, locals told RFA.

Five fighter jets attacked the headquarters at Camp Victoria in Thantlang township even though there was no fighting in the area at the time, according to the locals who declined to be identified for safety reasons.

RFA was unable to contact officials at Chin National Front headquarters to confirm the information and the names of the five members who died.

Indian airspace

The camp is close to the border with India and Salai Isaac Khen, interim chairman of the Interim Chin National Consultative Council said residents told him the junta jets crossed into Indian airspace and a bomb fell on the Indian side of the border. India has so far made no announcement on the incident.

National Unity Government spokesman, Dr. Sasa denounced the junta for disregarding international airspace regulations and for intending to commit genocide against the ethnic Chin people.

The California-based Chin Human Rights Organization posted on Twitter that "the attacks represent the highest escalation ... of the armed conflict in Chin State to date."

The junta has released no statement on the airstrike.

On Dec. 31, the junta said it was extending its ceasefire with ethnic armed groups for another year.

Last week, three of ethnic armed organizations held talks with junta leaders. The Chin National Front has refused to join peace talks, saying last year there could be no negotiations unless the shadow National Unity Government and the People's Defense Force were included.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.

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