Military rule extension may not bring anything new to Chin State

Photo – Chairman of the Chin People's Organization, Salai Htan Chun Phay, in discussion with the Arakan Army. The extension of the emergency period of semi-civilian military rule for another 90 days is unlikely to bring any significant changes to Chin State, Chin leaders have said. PAKKHUI (July 16) Chin resistance leaders have assessed and stated that the military junta's further extension of the emergency period of semi-civilian military rule will not bring any significant changes to Chin State. The military junta announced martial law in the townships it claimed to have lost, extending it by 90 days in 60 townships on April 23, 2026. This period is set to expire on July 21. In this situation, Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs and Deputy Attorney General Dr. Htin Lin Oo, on behalf of junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, proposed to the 2026 parliamentary session held on July 14 to extend the emergency period by another 90 days, citing the need to restore administrative, community peace and stability, and the rule of law to their original state. Chin resistance leaders have responded to this proposal. Out of the nine townships in Chin State, martial law was initially declared in seven townships. However, preparations are underway to keep five townships, namely Mindat, Kanpetlet, Matupi, Paletwa, and Thantlang, under martial law, excluding the townships of Falam and Tonzang, which they claim to have recaptured. "We are not resisting based on whether martial law is imposed or not. As long as injustice exists, resistance will continue. We will continue to resist until we achieve the justice we desire. I don't think there will be any significant change due to the announcement or non-announcement. They are just doing what they always do," Salai Htan Chun Phay, chairman of the Chin People's Organization/Chin People's Army (CPU/CPA), told Mizzima. He further stated that the public needs to clearly recognize that crimes such as theft, robbery, looting, drug trafficking, and gambling are increasingly prevalent in areas controlled by the military forces, and that the military is collaborating with criminals. In addition, he assessed that since the military junta is continuously carrying out military activities, it is uncertain whether the martial law extension will lead to further military escalation, but there will be no significant changes, and their resistance forces will continue to advance towards their set goals. Similarly, another Chin resistance force leader assessed that air strikes and ground offensives within Chin State will continue as usual, and therefore, no significant changes are expected. "Currently, there are air strikes almost every day in Chin State, and there are also ground battles. They will continue to do this in the townships that are not under their control," he said. Currently, the townships of Mindat and Kanpetlet in Chin State are subjected to air strikes almost daily, and ground offensives are also occurring. Furthermore, battles continue to be intense within the Tantlang township. In addition, even in townships without ground battles, such as Matupi and Paletwa, which are controlled by resistance forces, and Haka, which the military junta does not control well, air strikes are being carried out, it is known. The 58 townships for which the military junta has proposed to extend martial law are: five townships from Kachin State, three from Kayinni State, two from Kayin State, five from Chin State, 14 from Rakhine State, 15 from Shan State, eight from Sagaing Region, five from Magway Region, and one from Mandalay Region. Representatives wishing to discuss the proposed extension of martial law have been announced to register by today (July 16) as the final deadline, and the 2026 parliamentary session will be held again on July 21, it is known. Editor: Naung Naung