An interview with a young political activist from Launglon, about the current situation in Launglon where the military council is conducting raids.
The military council has conducted frequent raids in Launglon Township, where it has encountered persistent protests and resistance attacks since the military coup.
Villagers have fled to safer areas as the military council enters the villages in Launglon Township. During these raids, locals are facing severe human rights violations, including civilian killings and the burning of homes.
Than Lwin Times interviewed a young political activist from Launglon, about the junta’s raids, the challenges and human rigths violations faced by displaced people.
Q: First of all, what is the latest situation regarding the junta’s raids in Launglon?
A: Two military columns have entered Launglon Township. The first column arrived in Maungmakan on 17 August and remains active in Thaw Baw Seik and Pyin Gyi villages. Residents from Tha Bawt Seik, Pyin Gyi, Maung Ma Kan, and Kyauk Sin villages have fled. On the beach of Tha Bawt Seik, two houses were burned, and junta soldiers confiscated mobile phones and motorbikes from a monastery. The soldiers took villagers as hostages but later released them. So far, the junta troops are still active in the area. On 29 August, another military column entered the area. It is loacted on the both sides of Dawei. It is separated by Dawei River. The junta’s forces arrived in two columns—one by sea and the other by land. After entering the area, they demand and steal rations, repeating their previous actions. Upon leaving the villages, junta soldiers destroyed two boats at the jetty. The military column then moved to Phaung Oo Pyin village. There are reports of arson around Phaung Oo Pyin, with news indicating that houses have been burned down, though this has not been fully verified. Multiple military camps in the area have been set on fire. It is confirmed that three villagers were shot dead when these camps were discovered.
Q: Why do you think the military council has been moving in and out of villages in Launglon Township since the second week of August?
A: In my view, the current operation pattern is for instance, the deep-sea port is located on the upstream of Tha Bawt Seik and Sa Khan Gyi. Many junta soldiers are deployed around the deep-sea port. It is uncertain whether the military is conducting raids in two separate columns with the aim of securing the area around the deep-sea port, given the large number of junta soldiers stationed there.
We don’t know for sure, and the situation is difficult to predict. However, the junta used to conduct raids in Launglon. There was only one direction. Even if the column was split into two, they merged the two columns back into one. Now, the two areas are distant from each other. So, I understand that their goal is to clear the area in the deep-sea port. Another thing is the military council is advancing into the area following reports that armed forces are active in Tha Bawt Seik. The junta’s camp is located on the mountain in Thea Pon village on Launglon road between Launglon and Dawei.
Before the raids, they fired heavy artillery at the village. After this bombardment, they reentered the camp. This heavy shelling may have been a tactic to facilitate their raid on the village. On 29 August, the column that entered the village had previously fired heavy shells on both sides. During this shelling, an elderly woman was killed. Following the bombardment, the military column reentered the village.
Q: What is your comment on the arrests and killings of civilians, as well as the burning of houses, during raids from one village to another, particularly when there is no active fighting taking place?
A: Armed forces are widespread, and the junta-controlled area is under threat. To secure their current control, they will enforce military measures. In my view, junta soldiers should stop the destruction of civilian property, the taking of civilians as hostages, and the arbitrary shooting, killing, arresting, and torturing of civilians during raids. From any legal perspective, these actions constitute war crimes.
Q: What challenges are displaced locals encountering due to the junta’s raids, and how are these challenges being addressed?
A: Now is the rainy season. Due to heavy rains, the IDPs are facing difficulties. People from many villages targeted by junta soldiers have fled. Locals are compelled to escape because the soldiers act as if they have a license to kill, instilling fear among civilians. As a result, nearly all nearby villagers are seeking shelter in areas far from the military column. The impoverished grassroots struggle to find refuge with relatives and are instead seeking shelter in nearby villages. We are providing as much humanitarian aid as possible in collaboration with social organizations. Villages near the military column have also fled.
If the military council column has moved a significant distance from the village, they will return to the village. Currently, there are villages where locals are going in and out. During the rainy season, locals face a lot of difficulties. The people from some villages are trapped due to the military column. The prices of basic food items are high. Even some IDPs are facing food shortages. They are in trouble as they can’t make a living.
Q: What is the situation of human rights violations in Dawei District?
A: Locals are experiencing daily human rights violations due to the lack of legal protection. The military council forces are responsible for the majority of human rights violations. However, there are instances where resistance forces also commit such violations. For instance, resistance forces drive people out of villages and beat those who return, making unilateral decisions based on mistrust and without free and fair trials.
Villagers are facing theft and robbery, while women are experiencing to assaults that outrage their modesty.
Sent by Than Lwin Times
