Chinland Defense Force (CDF) retreated from a southern Chin State town that it held off for days against the Burma Army on Saturday after the military sent waves of troops in dozens of helicopters, then overrunning the town with relentless artillery strikes, even stooping to the cowardly act of using human shields.

An official from CDF in Mindat said when soldiers finally got through: “They broke the doors arresting any men inside the houses,” explaining why they had to flee to the jungle, leaving only the elderly, women and children.

CDF said in a statement it retreated to avoid unnecessary loss of civilian life and destruction of their town. The official explained the Army used human shields when they searched the town and snipers kept watch.

After the Chinland Defense Force successfully ambushed every military convoy that tried to reach the town by road, the regime flew soldiers, weapons and ammunition in helicopters, making at least 30 runs, according to CDF's own estimates.

And then they fired at least 60 artillery rounds from nearby Kyaukhtu. Some shells struck homes wounding civilians, including children, while snipers shot at anything moving.

"During attacks on KNU (Karen National Union), KIA (Kachin Independence Army), AA (Arakan Army) they didn't send troops in helicopters 20 to 30 times... They tried to commit genocide. We are facing a brutal regime, but we are not afraid of them. We won't stop our revolution. We will come back again and continue the revolution until they fall." the official told Khonumthung News.

Now is the time to stop protesting, he said and time to start the armed struggle against this bestial military regime.