April 5th, 2022
Locals are worried over renewed clashes as a military column of over 200 soldiers from the military council is stationed in Namsanyan village in Waingmaw Township on the other side of Myitkyina of Kachin State
“The refugees from Namsanyan village are preparing to return to their homes. Yesterday, the military column took position outside the village. On the morning of April 4th, they entered the village. At present, there is no problem. But the situation is worrying. We have to be a bit cautious about it as the military is stationed in the village,” a local told the Network Media Group (NMG).
Around 200 people are residing in Namsanyan village. They are some IDPs families and the migrant workers who are working in the gold mining. The people are monitoring the situation, a villager said.
The religious organization, town-elders and the refugees have called for armed groups not to deploy their troops as the refugees are preparing to return to their homes in Namsanyan village and nearby areas.
“I can’t say exactly at present. The village heads told the villagers that they no need to be fearful of it. Townelders and some village heads are coordinating with the military. We don’t want fighting when the refugees are planning to go home,” a townelder from the village.
There has been no fighting in Namsanyan village and nearby areas for nearly two years. At the request of the refugees, some CSOs, religious leaders and some refugees are working on the resettlement in the village.
The return of the refugees displaced by the renewed fighting between the military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in 2011, may be hindered if there are renewed clashes, the refugees said.
Sent by the NMG.