An interview with a women’s rights activist from Kutkai Township
On 18 February, military tensions erupted between the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) based in Shan State and the Kachin Defense Army (KDA), also known as the Kaungkha militia, stationed in Kaungkha village in Kutkai Township.
During the night of that day, TNLA forces entered Kaungkha village, some asking permission to position themselves in civilian homes, while others broke through fences and forcibly opened doors.
This panicked the residents and forced them to seek refuge in the churches. To learn more about the current situation of military tension between the two sides and people’s concerns, Daw Htu Yaw (name changed), a women’s rights activist in Kutkai Township, was interviewed by the Shan Herald.
Q: We heard that there was tension between the TNLA and the Kaungkha militia. Can you tell us how this came about and what the current situation is on the ground?
A: The TNLA forces withdrew on the 21st of this month. However, they’re still in the area. When they first came to the village, some of them broke open doors to get into civilians’ homes. Last Friday, they came in. In some places, they asked for permission to position themselves inside.
Q: When the TNLA soldiers occupied people’s homes, did the residents stay with them? What were they doing?
A: When the TNLA soldiers entered their houses, they got scared and some of them sought refuge with their relatives. The Roman Catholic Church members went to the Roman Catholic Church and the Baptist Church members went to the Baptist Church. They [TNLA troops] entered the vilalge on Friday, and the residents had to flee on Monday. Some of them haven’t returned home until today. Some are living between their church and their houses; others are digging trenches. The situation is still worrying.
Q: Why do you think there has been tension between the TNLA and the Kaungkha militia?
A: In the past, too, there were raids on the Jaryang camp and arrests of people as human shields. So they came back to Kaungkha again. The KDA headquarters is in downtown Kutkai. But there were no clashes between the two sides. Instead of marching directly to the headquarters, TNLA troops occupied the entire Kaungkha (new town). On Monday, a column of the military council marched toward Kaungkha and set up camp there. Then the TNLA troops withdrew.
Q: How are local people currently living amid these military tensions? How great are their fears?
A: Even though the TNLA forces have withdrawn, some of them are still around. So people are still concerned about when the fighting will break out again. So some people return to their homes for a while and then go back to church. I’m not quite sure how many of them are there.
Q: In the past, military council forces have shelled shelters for displaced people, churches and monasteries with artillery from afar. Do people seeking shelter in churches feel safe during this time of military tension?
A: As far as security is concerned, it’s not safe for them either in the downtown areas or in the forests or villages. With armed groups clashing frequently, people in the area live in a state of apprehension. I’m not the only one who feels this way; everyone there is in the same situation. The insecurity makes us feel even worse.
Sent by the Shan Herald.