July 26th, 2022
There is a growing concern among the villagers as a combined force of the military council and the Border Guard Force (BGF) advances on Myaing Gyi Ngu to carry out the supply of rations and reinforcement of troops, according to a local from Kanaungmyaing village.
Locals don’t dare to go outside as they fear that the military may arrest them to be used as porters and human shields.
“At 7 am on July 25th, a long line of vehicles from a combined force of the junta troops and the BGF entered the Myaing Gyi Ngu road section. Most of the troops are the BGF members as it is in Myaing Gyi Ngu. I think it is highly likely that the military may make an offensive in No.5 Brigade territory as it is on the bank of the Than Lwin River near Nan Oo Pagoda. The military also used this route in the past. Due to the offensive, the people from our village and the people in nearby villages don’t dare to do farming. The people are afraid of being arrested to be used as porters and human shields,” the local told the KIC.
The reinforcement of troops comes after Major Maung Chit, commander of No.1014 Battalion of the BGF issued a letter ordering the shutdown of jetties in Kataingti village from July 20th. Locals have estimated that it aims to carry out an offensive in Brigade-5 of the KNU.
In recent months, the BGF members arrested hundreds of villagers and used villagers as porters and human shields in some villages in No.1 Brigade territory of the KNU.
Fighting has resumed in the territories controlled by the brigades of the KNU since the coup.
Brigade-5 of the KNU sees the highest number of clashes between the KNU and a combined force of the military council and the BGF. The KNU could seize some important frontline camps of the military council.
Sent by the KIC