The Battle of Thantlang is a series of battles fought over the control of Thantlang town in Chin State, Myanmar between junta forces and local Chin rebels in 2021. The battle has left the town largely destroyed.[4] In 2023, there continue to be clashes in Thantlang as the junta attempts to regain control of the township.[5]
Following the February 2021 military coup d'état, Thantlang saw several anti-coup protests. As the junta cracked down on the peaceful demonstrations, many residents took up arms and Chinland armed groups started to organise resistance. Military forces killed civilians with gunfire and artillery strikes and additionally set fire to the town several times burning over a thousand buildings. By September 2021, they started gaining ground in the township.[4]
Summaryedit
Initial battleedit
On 19 September 2021 clashes broke out in Thantlang when Chin National Army (CNA) and CDF-Thantlang launched attack on a junta base reportedly killing around 30 soldiers. In response junta forces killed a Christian leader who tried to put out a fire. A month later they returned and burned down two churches and at least 164 homes.[6][7]
By late November 2021 Chin forces captured 51 out of the 88 villages in the Thantlang Township.[4]
On 9 June 2022 military forces burned down the decades-old Thantlang Baptist Church.[6] On 1 February 2023 Chin forces captured two soldiers and four police officers with their weapons. At this rebel forces claimed to control around two-thirds of Thantlang.[8]
The battle also lead to the exodus of thousands of residents as early as September 2021.[9] Over 10,000 Thantlang residents fled the town, seeking refuge in the countryside and the neighbouring Indian state of Mizoram.[10] By November 2022, much of Thantlang had been burned down.[4]
Renewed battleedit
On 8 February 2023, joint CNA/CNDF forces attacked the Thantlang police station. The rebels successfully took control of the station by 2 a.m., claiming to have killed four officers. The forces lost one fighter and one fighter was injured. Additionally, they claimed to have captured 40 rifles as well as grenades, ammunition and an anti-drone weapon.[11] Following this attack, the Tatmadaw remained in control of only Tat Kone hill near the town, where Light Infantry Battalion 269 was stationed.[2]
On 26 May 2023, around 150 junta soldiers left Hakha to recapture Thantlang. They encountered Chin forces and the subsequent battle killed 27 junta soldiers while the rebels suffered 12 fatalities and 10 injuries.[5] On 30 March 2023 junta forces bombed Khuabung village near Thantlang killing eight residents and injuring 20.[6]
On 14 June, local media reported that junta forces had recaptured rebel camp in Lungkhar. One column of soldiers was reportedly in Thantlang while another was approaching it.[12] During the attack, three rebel fighters were killed. On 16 June clashes again erupted in Thee Mit Valley with reportedly more than 50 soldiers were killed and 20 wounded and 12 Chin fighters killed and other 12 injured.[13]
Legal case in the Philippinesedit
Banking on the principle of universal jurisdiction, legal case was filed against ten officials of the Myanmar junta over alleged war crimes committed in Thantlang in the legal system of the Philippines.[14]The Myanmar Accountability Project and the Chin Human Rights Organization were behind the filing of the case.[15]
^ abc. RFA. 31 March 2023. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023.
^. Myanmar Now. 28 September 2021. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023.
^. Myanmar Now. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023.
^. Frontier Myanmar. 2021-09-23. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
^. AP NEWS. 2021-10-30. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
^. BNI Online. 13 February 2023. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023.
^The junta army reportedly killed two comrades of the Chinland Defense Force – Hakha (CDF – Hakha) and the Chin National Army (CNA) at a base camp near Lungkhar village in Hakha township of Chin state, Myanmar, on Monday, Chindwin News Agency
^. The Irrawaddy. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023.
^"Myanmar Nationals File Case Against Junta in Philippines". The Irrawaddy. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
^Nuval, Valerie Joyce (25 October 2023). "Myanmar nationals seek justice in Philippines for "military war crimes" in their country". VERA Files. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
January 01, 1970
battle, thantlang, part, chin, theater, myanmar, civil, 2021, present, dateseptember, 2021, presentlocationthantlang, chin, state, myanmar22, 69917, 42806, 69917, 42806resultongoing, claims, control, thirds, thantlang, forces, maintain, presence, attempt, reca. Battle of ThantlangPart of the Chin theater of the Myanmar civil war 2021 present DateSeptember 2021 presentLocationThantlang Chin State Myanmar22 41 57 N 93 25 41 E 22 69917 N 93 42806 E 22 69917 93 42806ResultOngoing CNA CDF claims control of two thirds of Thantlang SAC forces maintain a presence and attempt recaptures in 2023BelligerentsState Administration Council Tatmadaw Myanmar Army North Western Command Myanmar Police ForceChin National Army Chinland Defense ForceCommanders and leadersSaw Ye Hmue AungHein Myat Soe 1 UnknownUnits involvedTatmadaw Myanmar Army Light Infantry Battalion 269 2 Myanmar Police ForceChin National Army Chinland Defense Force CDF Thantlang CDF ZopheiStrength1 500 3 The Battle of Thantlang is a series of battles fought over the control of Thantlang town in Chin State Myanmar between junta forces and local Chin rebels in 2021 The battle has left the town largely destroyed 4 In 2023 there continue to be clashes in Thantlang as the junta attempts to regain control of the township 5 Contents 1 Background 2 Summary 2 1 Initial battle 2 2 Renewed battle 3 Legal case in the Philippines 4 ReferencesBackground editFollowing the February 2021 military coup d etat Thantlang saw several anti coup protests As the junta cracked down on the peaceful demonstrations many residents took up arms and Chinland armed groups started to organise resistance Military forces killed civilians with gunfire and artillery strikes and additionally set fire to the town several times burning over a thousand buildings By September 2021 they started gaining ground in the township 4 Summary editInitial battle edit On 19 September 2021 clashes broke out in Thantlang when Chin National Army CNA and CDF Thantlang launched attack on a junta base reportedly killing around 30 soldiers In response junta forces killed a Christian leader who tried to put out a fire A month later they returned and burned down two churches and at least 164 homes 6 7 By late November 2021 Chin forces captured 51 out of the 88 villages in the Thantlang Township 4 On 9 June 2022 military forces burned down the decades old Thantlang Baptist Church 6 On 1 February 2023 Chin forces captured two soldiers and four police officers with their weapons At this rebel forces claimed to control around two thirds of Thantlang 8 The battle also lead to the exodus of thousands of residents as early as September 2021 9 Over 10 000 Thantlang residents fled the town seeking refuge in the countryside and the neighbouring Indian state of Mizoram 10 By November 2022 much of Thantlang had been burned down 4 Renewed battle edit On 8 February 2023 joint CNA CNDF forces attacked the Thantlang police station The rebels successfully took control of the station by 2 a m claiming to have killed four officers The forces lost one fighter and one fighter was injured Additionally they claimed to have captured 40 rifles as well as grenades ammunition and an anti drone weapon 11 Following this attack the Tatmadaw remained in control of only Tat Kone hill near the town where Light Infantry Battalion 269 was stationed 2 On 26 May 2023 around 150 junta soldiers left Hakha to recapture Thantlang They encountered Chin forces and the subsequent battle killed 27 junta soldiers while the rebels suffered 12 fatalities and 10 injuries 5 On 30 March 2023 junta forces bombed Khuabung village near Thantlang killing eight residents and injuring 20 6 On 14 June local media reported that junta forces had recaptured rebel camp in Lungkhar One column of soldiers was reportedly in Thantlang while another was approaching it 12 During the attack three rebel fighters were killed On 16 June clashes again erupted in Thee Mit Valley with reportedly more than 50 soldiers were killed and 20 wounded and 12 Chin fighters killed and other 12 injured 13 Legal case in the Philippines editBanking on the principle of universal jurisdiction legal case was filed against ten officials of the Myanmar junta over alleged war crimes committed in Thantlang in the legal system of the Philippines 14 The Myanmar Accountability Project and the Chin Human Rights Organization were behind the filing of the case 15 References edit POWs Reveal Names of Junta Captains Who Reduced Chin Town of 10 000 to Ashes 13 February 2023 a b Ethnic Chin rebels dispute junta claim of martial law in one key township RFA 10 February 2023 Archived from the original on June 20 2023 The Burning of Thantlang 2 Years On 25 October 2023 a b c d Fishbein Emily 9 November 2022 The Military Tried to Burn Thantlang Down How a Myanmar Township Defied the Odds to Become a Resistance Stronghold Time Archived from the original on February 17 2023 a b Nearly 30 junta soldiers killed in battle in Timit river plain between Hakha Thantlang 5 June 2023 a b c Once bustling town of Thantlang reduced to rubble by Myanmar s junta RFA 31 March 2023 Archived from the original on June 28 2023 New fighting breaks out in Chin State s Thantlang Myanmar Now 28 September 2021 Archived from the original on June 20 2023 Chin resistance forces capture six including an army lieutenant in Thantlang ambush Myanmar Now 2 February 2023 Archived from the original on June 20 2023 Thousands flee Thantlang Chin State after clashes with junta troops Frontier Myanmar 2021 09 23 Archived from the original on March 26 2023 Retrieved 2021 11 02 Army shelling in Myanmar blamed for setting 160 homes ablaze AP NEWS 2021 10 30 Archived from the original on June 22 2023 Retrieved 2021 11 02 Chin resistance groups capture police station in Thangtlang town Chin State BNI Online 13 February 2023 Archived from the original on June 20 2023 The junta army reportedly killed two comrades of the Chinland Defense Force Hakha CDF Hakha and the Chin National Army CNA at a base camp near Lungkhar village in Hakha township of Chin state Myanmar on Monday Chindwin News Agency Myanmar Junta Troops Seize Resistance Camp in Ambush in Chin State The Irrawaddy 14 June 2023 Archived from the original on June 28 2023 Myanmar Nationals File Case Against Junta in Philippines The Irrawaddy 25 October 2023 Retrieved 26 October 2023 Nuval Valerie Joyce 25 October 2023 Myanmar nationals seek justice in Philippines for military war crimes in their country VERA Files Retrieved 26 October 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Thantlang amp oldid 1226235471, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
