Fighting intensified in Kyaikmayaw Township after revolutionary forces stormed the police station and the gate of the Chaunghnakhwa Bridge village in Kyaikmayaw Township of Mon State on November 10.
The fighting continued until early December, and tens of thousands of people in the region are fleeing as the military council troops continue to fire heavy weapons and bombard the area. The locals are worried that the fighting in the region will intensify again as the revolutionary forces are informing those who have fled and taken refuge in the region to leave temporarily.
The Independent Mon News Agency (IMNA) interviewed some of the IDPs about the situation in Kyaikmayaw and the situations being faced by the IDPs.
Naing Bo (a local from Kyaikmayaw)
The situation is calm now. But I don’t know if being calm is good or bad. If they (army, revolutionary forces) do not withdraw their troops, the situation in our village cannot be assured. At present, the people are unable to live in Pyar Taung. All the people who were hiding in Pya Taung cave have moved to other places. Some of them went to Thumanarama monastery. Some went to Kopplai monastery. Only a very few people are seen on the streets in the village. They get out of the houses if they have important matters. If it’s not important, no one walks on the street. The situation is not calm. No one dares to harvest paddy in the farms. No one dares to stay on the ground. The people live in the places which have strong shelters. When will (weapons, bombs) land? It is impossible to know where it will fall. As the military situation is still complicated, in my view we should not go back to the village. Now the thefts are rampant. There are more thefts at night, but no one dares to go out to look at their own house.
A displaced local from Kyaikmayaw
Everything is okay as food and drink are arranged by the monastery. But some people want to go back to the village. It’s not convenient in the village. Some of the refugees are financially difficult. So, if they are back in the village, they can generate a few incomes for their livelihood. If you stay here, the food is okay. Those who planted small rubber plants do not dare to go to their plantations. Watermelon plantations are also damaged as they cannot pick them. They got nothing. A farmer has to invest Ks-five to six million. Even some farmers have to invest up to Ks-8 million. Paddy farmers have to invest a lot of money. They have to abandon all plantations and farms.
Mi Than Wai (an IDP)
I’m worried. I also have to worry about my family. Is it okay to stay here? I want to go back to the village, but I can’t go back yet. I am worried about everything. Living here is okay but it is not like your own home. And I was also afraid of the bombing. The bombing will burn the houses. It is uneasy to get a house. The bombs and weapons were falling right next to the house. So, I didn’t dare to stay there. Now the revolutionary forces urge the people in Pyar Taung to leave. So, I can no longer live in the village. I want to cry thinking about it. This is the suitable time to collect rubber latex. Now that this is happening, I have to leave it like this.
Sent by IMNA.