Fighting is taking place between the military council and the combined defense force as the military council has increased its deployments along Moebye-Loikaw road in Karenni (Kayah) State, with 70 military vehicles.
On 24 July, the military council carried out reinforcement of troops in Loikaw. As a result, fighting is taking place and tension mounts, an official of Battalion-2 of Karenni Nationalities Defense Force said.
“Currently, there are still shootings near Konethar. The military council is carrying out area clearance operations and deployments. The first batch has a strength of 250 to nearly 300. In the evening, they entered on foot and by car. The strength is 40 and 30. At present, there are a few clashes,” an official of KNDF’s Battalion-2 said.
Fighting is also taking place in Pekon Township as the defense forces carry out ambush attacks on the military vehicles, according to locals.
U Banyar, member of Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) said: “The military council is sending a large number of troops into Karenni State. It can be said that as an example, the military council is planning to totally destroy our state.”
The official of KNDF’s Battalion-2 warned the public to avoid travelling along Moebye-Loikaw road.
Locals have fled to Loikaw city as the military council troops are stationed in some villages along the road, the villagers said.
Since 20 July, fighting has been taking place along Moebye-Loikaw. The military council’s heavy shelling killed a civilian and wounded four others, locals said.
U Banyar said: “The military council has sent a large force to our state, and the revolutionary forces are attacking them. So, the military council forces enter the villages. The military council’s shelling into the areas where the people are hiding has resulted in many casualties.
On 21 July, People’s Defense Force Battalion No.1006 and KNDF’s Battalion No.3 ambushed the military council’s Division-55 on Moebye-Loikaw road. The military council suffered casualties.
Tension with local defense force mounts as the military council force are stationed in Kankyaing village monastery and Saungkan (Shan), according to locals.
In June, the military council sent Division-44, 55, 66, 77 and 99 to Karenni State. Fighting is taking place across Karenni State due to the military council’s increased deployments and offensives.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times
