By Prawesh Lama
Bombings by the Myanmar Army have severely damaged villages Tiao D. and Tiao Khawmami, forcing thousands of people to flee into India.
Roofs have been damaged. The streets are littered in splinters. Tin sheets used as walls are pierced through by bombs. Most of the windows are broken and many of the homes are bolted. Some are even locked. These scenes can be seen in Tiao D, and Tiao Khawmami – two villages located about 4 km from Mizoram in Myanmar across the border.
On Thursday when HT visited the villages in Mizoram’s Changphai district, a small number of families had begun to repair their houses, while most remained in relief camps, frightened that another attack would occur. Zohkawathar is a Mizoram town located in Changphai District. The Tiao River separates it from Myanmar. A small bridge allows easy access on both sides.
Residents of the two countries are free to enter each other’s territory up to a distance of 16km without needing a visa.
In the first week of this month, the rebel groups, the Chin National Army, the People’s Democratic Force and the Chinland Defence Force took control of military posts along the borders in an attempt to retake territory from Junta. The Junta has controlled the country ever since the coup d’état in 2021. The Myanmar Army responded by bombing the area, which caused thousands to feel like they were in India.
On November 12-13, over 5,000 Myanmar citizens crossed from Tiao D to Zohkawathar. Two Aizwal hospital are admitting 14 of its residents with serious wounds. Many others are being treated at Champhai District Hospital with less severe wounds.
I’ve returned to replace the roof, but we won’t stay the night. This is not a safe place. “I have to redo my walls because they are bullet-marked,” Laldin Liana said, 35, of Tiau D Village, as construction workers were putting up a new roof made of tin. Liana claimed that the old roof had more than 50 splinter-holes.
The military junta exploded between 12-13 November around 50 to 70 bombs. Around 2pm on November 13th, I was outside the chicken coop and feeding the birds. The two bombs were dropped in rapid succession, one on the house itself and another hitting the chicken coop. Two explosions were heard and we saw fire. The 15 birds in the coop were all dead. “We just ran and ran towards India,” said he.
Lalkun Keima’s house is less than 200m from the border village of Tiau Khawmawi, where he lives. Keima is a 37 year old porter, who loads trucks at the India-Myanmar frontier. Keima has also returned to his home in order to repair the damage caused by the bombing. Keima, his wife Lalpeik, and their 40-year-old daughter, Liana, had to leave the house just minutes after it was bombed.
The previous night, we heard planes flying over us. Everyone fled when the bombs began landing in our village. When the bomb tore off the roof of our house and destroyed the kitchen, my wife and I were still in the other room. Just as soon as we left, another bomb blew up our neighbor’s home. Keima: “Fortunately, the man had already fled his home by that time.”
Around 200m above Tiao D and Tiao Khawmami, you can see abandoned Myanmar Army post. Locals claim that the members of rebel forces warned them to stay away from the area. The army dropped bombs on its own posts after the rebel forces gained control. The bombs were dropped by planes but did not explode. PDF warned us to stay away from the bombs because they could explode.
The residents are uncertain whether they should return home or remain in the camps in India. However, CNA and PDF militants are on patrol in the villages. Rebel cadres also patrol the porous Myanmar border. They refused to speak with the reporter but said that the Myanmar Army no longer controls this part of western Myanmar.
‘Deeply concerned’: India calls for peace as Myanmar fighting reaches near border
The PDF has placed a loudspeaker at the top of the hill. “They said that they would sound an alarm if the Myanmar Army came to drop bombs once again,” Hrang Thannuna said.
Since October 27, fighting in Myanmar between the ruling military junta (the junta) and rebel forces increased. This is a sign of solidarity among many tribes, such as the Kuki-Zos, who are spread across the porous borders. Government estimates indicate that over 30,000 Myanmar refugees have settled in northern Mizoram since 2021, with at least 20,000 living in Aizawl, the largest district in Mizoram, and around 10,000 in Champhai, a northern town. Around 5,000 people arrived between November 11-12.
Our state government did not push for the collection of biometric information or to build a fence, because that would be against human rights. People across the border have the same ethnic connections as people in this country. This is also a temporary solution. “They will return to their home country eventually, even though many of them have fled India due to the current situation there,” said Lalthiamsang Sailo, state’s joint secretariat (home).
A resident of Zohkawathar named Siamtea who is a driver, said that no one was complaining about the refugee influx. The government says 30,000, but it could actually be higher. No one is complaining, not even me. We haven’t had any issues. All these years, Mizos have lived peacefully with our Chin siblings. Siamtea said that there are many Myanmars living across the boundary but working across it.
Thannuna walked across the bridge on Thursday night after working to repair the bridge. He was going to stay the night with a family member in Zohkawathar. He said that after a few years we will not need to find shelter in India. Our rebel forces have taken control of important areas that were previously controlled by the army. Once democracy returns, many of us will move to Myanmar’s cities. They can destroy our homes. “We will build the house again and again until democracy is restored.”
Roof services are vital for protecting your home and preserving its structural integrity. For more information you can check right here where we give a better view of our service The Roof Technician emergency roofing services in Toronto. Roofs are subject to wear and tear from the weather, which can lead to problems like leaks and damaged shingles. Roofing services are comprehensive and include inspections, repairs and, if necessary, roof replacements. residential roof replacement use high-quality materials and methods to create a roof that is weather resistant and durable. You can protect your home from weather elements and prolong its lifespan by hiring expert roofing services.
