The Burmese junta authorities have taken legal action against house owners, who lost their homes in a fire on 12 July in Tinam village, Hakha Township, Chin state western Burma.

“The Township Peace and Development Council (TPDC) and the fire brigade investigated the fire and filed a case in the Township legal court against the house owners,” said a local.

The fire started in Pu Hrang Uk’s house, and spread to the house of Pu Than Kung. All their goods and properties were gutted.

“Since the fire broke out at midday and most villagers had gone to work, nothing could be salvaged from the burning homes. I think I lost goods valued at Kyat 50 lakhs,” a local said.

Pu Hrang Uk’s house had four wardrobes, 56 tins of rice and two pigs. The fire claimed all. Pu Than Kung lost 10,000 tins of rice, a rice-mill and domestic animals.

This year, there were five fires in Chin state, but the authorities did not come forward to help the victims. Instead they are taking legal action to penalize them.

Tinam village was nearly wiped out in a fire in 1954.