29 June 2021
In Nagyi village, Shwe Laung Inn village-tract, Bilin township, Thaton district, Mon State, the joint force of the military troops and the border guard forces (BGFs), with a total of over 100 members, seized cars and motorcycles of the locals on June 28, according to the local news sources.
An unknown local reported that the Military Council’s soldiers from the Infantry Battalion (KaMaYa-549) subordinate to No.12 Command Headquarter (SaKaKha) and the Infantry Battalion (KaMaYa-402) subordinate to No.8 Command Headquarter and the members of No.1011 Border Guard Force (BGF) Battalion led by Major Henry blocked the way and seized cars and motorcycles without sound reasons.
“Now the Military Council cut off the phone line. Then they made blockage and seized all passing cars and motorcycles. Until now around 60 motorcycles and 5 to 6 cars have already been seized. The seized vehicles are placed in Nagyi village school where the military troops, the BGF members and the vehicles’ owners all existed. The locals were not informed about blockage in advance and until now they had not known the reasons of such seizure yet. But one thing they told us is that they would not allow any vehicle to pass through now,” such local reported KIC.
Bilin is situated in Karen National Union (KNU) 1st Brigade and then the military troops have already blocked all of the ways in Pain Hne Taw. Such troops are new comers and working together with the Major Henry-led BGF members therefore the total forces have reached up to over 180, according to KNU.
It was heard that local villagers faced difficulty in transportation due to such blockage. And since the soldiers screened the passers-by more than necessary on the pretext of Covid-19 through even checking the mobile phones, the shooting had broken out with KNU 1st Brigade members.
Likewise, it was written on social media that certain men from some villages of Bilin township had been arrested on suspicion of being PDF members by the Military Council on June 26. However, it has not been confirmed yet.
Since after coup in KNU 1st Brigade area, KNU subordinate groups have often fought with the military troops and the BDF members as well. Since the Military Council is now expanding its forces and the telecommunication lines have been cut off, the locals are worried for another offensive operation.
Sent by
KIC