November 1, 2022
The military and the militia operating under the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) are coordinating with the Kayan New Land Party (KNLP) to reopen a checkpoint in Lwalpaw village-tract in Pekon Township in southern Shan State.
The military council is trying to reopen the checkpoint on Kanpat road in the east of Pekon Lake.
“Before the Hteeyee fighting on Kanpat road, there was a checkpoint of the military council. The military forced locals from Nyaungshwe Township to clear bushes and grasses so as to reopen the checkpoint. The military council forces displaced locals to return to their homes,” a local man from Lwalpaw village-tract who said on condition of anonymity told the Shan News.
Currently, the military council forces the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Lwalpaw, Saungnankhae, Nanpawlone, Nanswat, Peinnaekone, Lwalhal and Makyaykham villages, to return to their homes. The KNLP said it would not take responsibility for the return of the IDPs.
In addition, Taungpokwal and Hopan villages in Nyaungshwe Township and Nantoke, Konethar and Eainmu villages in Pinlaung Township forced locals to clear bushes and grasses, according to locals.
“There are frequent clashes on this road section. So, locals don’t dare to return to their homes. The military council ordered villagers via the village head to clear bushes per house. Some villagers refuse to do it. They said they would provide food, water and money as they were afraid of fighting,” a local man in his 40s from Nantoke villge told the Shan News.
Following the Hteeyee fighting in May, the military council burned down the houses in Saungnankhae village. The military council is trying to reopen the checkpoint although locals have fled to safer places.
An official from the Pekon People’s Defense Force (PDF) told the Shan News said: “The people should stay in safer places as the anti-dictator revolution has not come to an end. The military council may continue to use civilians as human shields and arrest and beat locals.”
Fighting has been taking place since October 27 as the military council is trying to control the Saungkan route connecting Hsi Hseng and Pinlaung Townships in southern Shan State to Pekon and Moebye Townships in Karenni State.
Sent by Shan News