Soldiers of the Burmese Army belonging to LIB 304 from Sebawngte camp in Matupi Township, Chin state crossed the international boundary and trespassed into Mizoram, a northeast state of India to buy rations earlier this month.

The Burmese military personnel went up to Chapui village, Saiha district in Mizoram state and forced 10 villagers to purchase and carry rations for them. “Afterwards the villagers were forced to carry it to Sebawng village in Burma. There were four women among the porters,” said a local of Chapui village.

Chapui village on the Indo-Myanmar border is where military personnel of both India and Myanmar meet for border security affairs every month.

Burmese soldiers used to collect rations from local villagers in Burma, but now that the villagers are facing difficulties in earning a livelihood, they trespassed into India. “Portering their rations is better than feeding them,” said a local.

However, it is learnt that there is not much portering by the Burmese military nowadays as the elections are near. A village leader, who is visiting Mizoram told Khonumthung, “Now the army is not forcing us to do their work and staying put in their camp. But I don’t know how long this will last.”

Although tactical commander Brig. Hung Ngai had issued orders before the 2008 referendum of the constitution not to use forced labour and portering by villagers in Chin state, it never stopped.