Villagers find it difficult to go to their farms as military council soldiers are stationed in Konethar village in Hsipaw Township in the northern Shan State.
The villagers from Konethar village fled to safer places for four days due to the clash between the military council, the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA). Although villagers have returned to the village, the junta soldiers remain in the village, locals.
“Although I return to my village, I don’t dare to go to our farms. Now is the time to harvest paddy and sesame. Villagers have to stay indoors as soldiers are outside the village. We are fearful that the soldiers may carry out indiscriminate artillery shelling and arrest us,” a 35-year-old woman told the Shan News.
“Till date since the clash, the basic education high school is closed. The school remains closed since the displaced children arrived back in the village. Teachers have fled to downtown Hsipaw. Villagers and children fear as soldiers remain there,” she continues.
On the morning of November 25, more than 300 people from Konethar village and nearby villages fled to Hsipaw due to the fighting near Konethar village. The villagers returned to the village on November 28.
“Although the IDPs return to the village, they don’t dare to go to their farms. Some people stay in the village as some houses are damaged by artillery shelling and the villagers fear. I would like to call on the army not to carry out military activities near the village. We have to return to our village although soldiers remain in the village. We face a lot of difficulties. We have to use a bag of rice for 300 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) per day,” a 40-year-old man from Konethar village told the Shan News.
More than 14 civilian houses were hit by artillery shells and bullets in Konethar village. They are in need of help to repair their damaged houses, the man adds.
The military council, the SSPP/SSA and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) are active in Hsipaw Township.
Sent by Shan News
