The military council’s troops which are carrying out military operations in the Brigade-4 territory of the Karen National Union (KNU), in Palaw Township, have detained civilians as human shields, according to villagers.
The soldiers from the Light Infantry Battalion-285 of the military council entered Madaw village in Palaw Township on November 7th and interrogated nearly 20 civilians in the village monastery, a local who declined to be named said.
“The soldiers use the villagers as a security blanket. The military detained nearly 20 villagers. The military released some detainees. But the military still detains some villagers for allegedly having a connection with the KNU. This morning, three villagers were released. They were released after soldiers beat their faces. Their faces are badly swollen,” the local told the KIC.
Fighting took place between the military council’s troops and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) under the KNU’s Brigade-4 on November 8th, killing one soldier and injuring two others, according to locals.
Due to fighting and the military council’s military activities, locals from Madaw village have fled to safer places. After the fighting, the military council’s troops extorted Ks-15 million from lead miners, according to the KNU’s statement.
On October 22nd and 23rd, fighting took place in Michaungthike and Chaungla villages in Palaw Township as local People’s Defence Force (PDF) seized the weapons from the military-backed People’s militia group. Fighting displaced some villagers.
The military council told the villagers that they would not be allowed to enter the village if the seized weapons were not returned and threatened to set fire to the village.
The villagers don’t dare to go home.
On October 4th, the military council’s troops entered Tharyargone village in Palaw Township and interrogated some villagers.
Sent by the KIC.