22 June 2021
The IDPs reported that they were facing the difficulty because the Military Council forcibly pushed them to return homes although it reinforced the troops and deployed in certain villages in the east side of Demoso township, Karenni State.
“In the evening of June 20, the military troops marched on foot from Phehlar village, Htiphoekaloe village-tract to Dawhlar village. They passed their night in Dawhlar village school. Today morning of June 21, they went up the mountain, met with IDPs and forced them to return home as a mandatory. Since the villagers were afraid of them, they returned homes as they ordered. Some did not dare to live in villages so they were packing to move Loikaw. One car had already left for Loikaw. Many people are still left in the village,” one IDP reported to Kantarrawaddy Times.
The locals told that in the east side of Demoso township where around 1,000 people were displacing, the military troops pushed IDPs to return homes and inquired across the mountain.
The IDPs did not dare to return home since the Military Council deployed its forces within villages and they therefore are facing difficulty to move to another safe places.
“It is not easy to move to other places. We have nothing to move or carry. It is more difficult to move in the forests. And our group includes old people, children and pregnant women. Such persons cannot move easily. Moreover, certain unhealthy persons cannot also move properly,” such IDP added.
Most IDPs are planning to move to Loikaw however no one knows whereabouts to live in Loikaw. Thus, the helpers are trying to get the available places.
The helpers also requested to provide not only the shelters but also the food and medicines for such displaced persons.
According to the locals, the military troops, whilst deploying within villages, housebroke and took the precious belongings.
It was reported that around 9 AM of June 21 there were over 20 military trucks heading from Loikaw to Demoso township and it included food trucks and container trucks, together with a lot of forces.
“Around 9 AM of this morning, there are more than 20 military trucks which included soldiers and the supplies. The truck line headed from Loikaw to Demoso township but I am not sure what their targeted direction is,” said a Loiklaw local.
According to the IDP locals, the military troops came to the places where the IDPs were hiding, threatened, inquired and forced them to fetch water.
Although Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) on June 15 declared a temporary ceasefire against the military troops, the Military Council kept reinforcing its forces and collecting the food supplies in the east side of Demoso township. Thus, the locals are worried about more war.
Sent by
Maw Oo Myar (Kantarrawaddy Times)