March saw intense fighting as the military council conducted offensives in five military fronts including Karenni State and southern Shan State.
Since the early March till 5 April, there has been intense fighting.
Currently, we have to compete with the military council to control this territory. Fighting may become more intense before the monsoon season, Khu Reedu, military chief of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) told the Kantarawaddy Times.
“The military council is trying to gain territorial control and wants to supply rations before the monsoon,” Khu Reedu continues.
In an attempt to show its legitimacy in the international arena, the military council is trying to control the Karenni State where armed resistance forces are strong. On the other hand, the military council is making a crackdown on the resistance forces in order that the revolution may not spread to Nay Pyi Taw Council which is sharing a border with Karenni State, according to officials of the KNDF.
The Karenni defense forces are making resistance against the military council troops which are making ground and aerial offensives to control the territories. Till now, fighting continues between the military council and the combined force in eastern Demoso and southern Shan State.
“Till now, shootings are taking place in the western Pekon and on the Shan-Karenni border,” an official of Pekon PDF Battalion-2 told the Kantarawaddy Times on 5 April.
In March, 2023, there were 102 battles in total. March, 2023 saw the record-breaking number of battles in Karenni State following the coup. March is said to have the highest number of battles after martial law is declared in some townships of Karenni State, said an information officer of the KNDF.
There were daily clashes in the eastern part of Demoso Township. On 4 April, fighting took place in Dawtangu and Tanilar villages almost all day, resulting in heavy casualties on the military council, Khu Reedu continued.
Yesterday, the military council conducted airstrikes and fired heavy shells in the eastern part of Demoso Township in addition to the conflict-affected area.
Since 9 March, three military columns of the military council are conducting offensives in Dawtamagyi, Dawnyaykhu and Bawlakhe in the eastern part of Demoso while three military columns in 6th mile, Dawtangu and Tanilarlae. At least three military columns of the military council are conducting offensives in the southern Shan State, according to the combined force.
The military council suffered hundreds of casualties in clashes in Karenni State and southern Shan State in March.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times