June 17th, 2022
The heavy shell fired by the military council landed on Zwat Aung Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camp near Kutkai in the northern Shan State at around 10 am on June 17th, killing three female IDPs and seriously wounding an old man, according to the IDPs.
“The military fired heavy shells without any clash. The heavy shell fired by the military council landed on the IDP camp. We are very afraid as we have no place to take shelter,” an IDP who declined to be named says.
Those killed in the heavy shelling are Daw Loke Seik Yaw Lwan, 52, Daw Phaw Gwun Naung Laing,56, Daw Zwan Zan Daung Naw, 28. The wounded man is U Dwan Phaung La Aung, 80.
Due to the intense fighting after the landing of artillery shells, the elderly, children, the pregnant women and some IDPs are taking shelter in the compound of a church in Daunglone village near Zwat Aung.
The conflict-affected area is located about one mile from Zwat Aung IDP camp and over 10 miles from Kutkai and is located near Kar Hlaing and Hu Naung villages.
Since June 15th, more than 300 soldiers of the military council from Kutkai are carrying out the offensive in the area of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the People’s Defense Force (PDF).
“The IDPs are worried. Some locals from Kar Hlaing village are hiding in the foxhole. The military is intentionally carrying out an offensive here. It is not in a position to stop the fighting easily. The military is carrying out the offensive here as the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), a combined force of the PDF, the Battalion-8, Brigade-4 of the KIA, Battalion-29 and Battalion-39 are active,” a local from Kar Hlaing told the KNG.
The military carried out artillery shelling as it suffered heavy casualties in the two-day fighting.
Since around five months ago, the members of the MNDAA-Kokang and the TNLA have been stationed at Zwat Aung IDP camp in Kutkai Township.
Sent by the KNG