Revolutionary forces were able to evacuate more than 100 people trapped in a monastery in northern ward in Hpaswang Township of Karenni State on 23 March, said locals who were freed.
More than 160 locals were trapped in the Hpaswang fighting which started on 29 February. The military council used more than 130 locals trapped in Kwatthit monastery as human shields, said a local who was released.
“The people had to stay tightly as soldiers used them as human shields. The people were not allowed to go home. To be rude, junta soldiers didn’t even let them go to the toilet. The people were not allowed to go to the creek. No one dared to go as junta soldiers threatened that the mines were planted. The soldiers ordered them not to go outside the fence from 6 am to 6 pm, use flashlights and speak loudly,” the local added.
The trapped locals were freed 24 days after the fighting started. The freed local said that the military council soldiers did not physically torture them while they were trapped, but they restricted the movements.
“Each and every person was downhearted. We had to live in a life-threatening situation. We were always thinking about our last day. After being rescued like yesterday, everyone could come back with a smile. Despite transportation difficulties, we were no longer in trouble like before.”
A member of No.1008 Hpaswang PDF said they had to evacuate trapped locals with great caution as the military council planted a lot of landmines near the places locals were.
“The military council has planted a lot of mines near the camp. We had difficulties. We had to go through minefields. We had to be more cautious about it as the people were used as human shields. We had to be more cautious of the fact whether they are the civilians or junta soldiers,” said the Hpaswang PDF member.
A local woman lost her leg when she stepped on a landmine planted by the military council while evacuating the local people. A monk was hit by shrapnel. The injured woman is receiving medical treatment and now she is in stable condition.
The revolutionary forces were able to evacuate more than 130 local people. There are still some people trapped in the town, according to the Hpaswang People’s Defense Force (PDF).
At present, fighting continues in Hpaswang. The KNDF has seized two pagoda hills, police station bridge, two checkpoints, township hall, Hteetar and Mawchi checkpoint and Mawchi hilltop camp in Hpaswang Township, according to the KNDF’s statement on 23 March.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times