What is Happening in Chin State, Myanmar

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been in a state of political turmoil since the military coup on February 1, 2021. Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government was overthrown by the military, commanded by General Min Aung Hlaing, on the grounds that there had been electoral fraud in the 2020 elections. Across the nation, there were several demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience in response to the coup, with people calling for the return of democracy and the release of political prisoners.

In recent years, there has been a great deal of unrest and bloodshed in Chin State, a region in western Myanmar. The Chin people, a primarily Christian ethnic minority in the region, have endured prejudice and persecution at the hands of the military junta that rules the nation. The situation in Chin State has gotten worse since the military coup in 2021 that overthrew Myanmar's democratically elected government. The military junta has been harshly repressing protests and dissent, including in Chin State, and there have been numerous claims of extrajudicial murders, torture, and arbitrary incarceration. In an effort to put an end to opposition, the military has also implemented curfews and internet outages.

As their homes and villages were destroyed and burned down, many Chin people have been forced to flee as a result of the violence and seek asylum in nearby nations like Mizoram, India or in makeshift camps within Myanmar. A humanitarian catastrophe has emerged as a result of the relocation, leaving many people without access to basic essentials including food, water, and healthcare. The displacement has also disrupted the education of many children as they don’t have a place to learn or teachers to teach them. The COVID-19 outbreak has exacerbated the situation and put further strain on the already precarious healthcare system in the nation. A deteriorating economic scenario has resulted from the military's takeover, with businesses closing and millions of people losing their jobs.

Despite the difficulties the Chin people are facing, the area has seen some inspirational acts of resistance and community. There have been reports of rallies and demonstrations calling for an end to the military's reign of terror, and local groups and activists have been working ceaselessly to help and assist people affected by the current state of affairs. The unfortunate situation in Chin State is an illustration of the destructive effects that military coups and authoritarian governments may have on vulnerable populations. It is essential that the international community keeps bringing attention to the violations occurring in Myanmar and strives to find a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.

In Myanmar as of May 26th, 2023, 3,580 civilians and pro-democracy activists have been killed, 22,726 have been arrested, and 18,407 have been detained.