An interview with a 50-year-old local woman from Namphatkar about the battle situation in northern Shan State.
Six civilians were killed and more than 10 others wounded in a month-long battle in late July between the military council, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) along Kutkai-Namphatkar-Muse Union Road in northern Shan State. In addition, the battles destroyed civilian houses.
The Kachin News Group (KNG) interviewed a 50-year-old local woman from Namphatkar about the public’s concern, the current regional situation and the struggle for the safety of their daily life.
Q: May I know the current political situation in Namphatkar?
A: Last Saturday (On 5 August) I saw around 10 soldiers walking in my village. Yesterday and today, soldiers are checking the people in front of Light Infantry Battalion-123. Because of the political situation this year, I didn’t even dare to go to the Bible study camp overnight. Transportation is also difficult. The people dare not to go to their farms. I live in fear of not knowing when the heavy weapon will hit. The military council fired heavy shells in No.6 ward although there were no fighting and armed forces.
Q: The local people are worried about the situation even if there is no fighting. If there is a battle, tell me what to worry about?
A: If there is a battle, heavy weapons will be fired. If there was a fight in Namphatkar, the military council has weapons that could turn Namphatkar to ashes within 15 minutes. The administrators said Namphatkar is a place where there should be no fighting. Only the people will suffer it if the fighting takes place. If there is a battle, they will fire a fusillade of heavy weapons. It will be difficult for people to live there. The people from the surrounding villages can flee to Namphatkar, but the people from Namphatkar have no place to flee to if there is a battle. They enter and leave Namphatkar village whenever they want. The people flee to the church when something happens. Now even the church is not safe.
Q: I also heard that the troops of the military council stationed in Namphatkar threatened the public. How did the military council soldiers threaten the public?
A: On 4 August, LIB-123 from Namphatkar summoned all 100-household heads and administrators and threatened to fire heavy shells into the places where the gunshots were heard. The army threatened that armed forces can attack the army if they have courage. The army will not be lenient with the villagers. We are more concerned.
Q: The people from Namphatkar village have no place to flee to. What is the latest situation? Are there people who have fled elsewhere?
A: The people of the village have not fled yet. There is no place to flee to. It is 27 miles away from Kutkai. There is no security in Kutkai. Muse is very far. Some people have dug trenches in advance. Trenches are closed when it rains. Most of the people have to play it by ear.
Q: The junta fires artillery shells although there is no battle. What is the current situation?
A: The army fires heavy weapons although there is no fighting. Artillery shells did not hit Namphatkar in the past. But this year, artillery shells hit Namphatkar. In the past, artillery shells landed on the mountains. This time, artillery shells killed the people.
Q: When the revolutionary forces are active in Namphatkar village, the military council fires heavy weapons. What rights do the villagers lose?
A: Some go to the forests to pick vegetables and sell them in the market. They can’t go outside due to political instability. Some people who import and sell the goods from Lashio and Muse face difficulty as the commodity prices have gone up. They are not too afraid of other groups, but they don’t dare to go to the place where the military council is present. Schools are open, but when the gunshots are heard, parents come to pick them up. If this continues, the people will lose all their rights including education and the economy.
Q: What about the will of the people when there is no more security?
A: We are worried about when and what will happen as the military council troops are present. The army in Namphatkar is also an important army that has controlled the situation in the surrounding area. Only the people will be hurt if the junta troops are attacked. They want to dismantle the military council, but if it starts going ineffectively like it did in the past, only the people will be affected. It would be good if the people were informed that they were going to fight and they fought when the people were safe. It is good if they prepare well to fight.
Q: The people are wounded, arrested and killed unjustly around Namphatkar. As a person living in a place where there is no security because of human rights violations by the military council, what would you like to say about the organizations?
A: Like media and CSOs, we only can collect data and evidence about the violations of human rights, in Myanmar and English as much as we can. You can’t do anything to them. Evidence must be collected in order to prosecute them sometimes in the future. I want them to report human rights violations through the media as much as possible. Only then, will everyone know what they are committing.
Sent by KNG