Myanmar army troops burned down almost all houses in Longjonyang village near Dawthponeyan in Bhamo Township, Kachin State, forcing residents to flee to safety, according to reports.
Locals reported that at around 3 pm on 12 October, a military column of over 100 soldiers advancing from Bhamo toward Dawthponeyan burned down 11 houses in Longjonyang before reaching Dawthponeyan.
“They (the junta troops) deliberately torched houses. They burned down a total of 11 houses. They razed everything to the ground. There is nothing left. The villagers had already fled when they heard that the troops were advancing. Then the junta troops entered and burned down the houses,” said a local from Dawthponeyan who helped the villagers of Longjonyang.
There are 16 households in Longjonyang village, 11 of which were burned down by the Myanmar army, the local said.
As a military column of over 100 soldiers advanced on the Konelaw-Nawngkun-Manhope road towards Dawthponeyan, they encountered mine and shooting attacks before reaching Longjonyang village, prompting the junta soldiers to set the village on fire, local residents said.
On the evening of 13 October, after the village was burned down, all Longjonyang residents were picked up in vehicles by KBC in Dawthponeyan and are currently housed at the KBC compound there.
“The villagers fled in three groups before the troops arrived. Some fled to Nawngnang village west of Mung Lai Hkyet, others fled into the jungle, and still others came out to the main road. On 12 October, we were able to pick up those who had come out to the main road. The rest we could pick up only yesterday ( 13 October) after their houses were burned down. Now all of them have reached Dawthponeyan. Some of them are staying outside while most of them are staying in the church compound. The church has arranged shelter and is helping the displaced villagers as much as it can,” said the local who is helping the Longjonyang villagers.
Currently, all 46 Longjonyang villagers from 12 households are housed in Dawthponeyan church compound while some are staying with relatives, he added. The church is providing necessary assistance.
“There is no fighting in the Longjonyang region, but villagers have lost their homes. They have nowhere to live; everything has been burned down. There are only two small houses left and one tall thatched-roof house, and that’s all, except for the church. So it is not easy for the villagers to return immediately,” said a Dawthponeyan resident.
Since Longjonyang residents have rice fields and farms, they are also worried that they will not be able to harvest their rice and crops in late October and November due to the current military situation in the region, he added.
Longjonyang is a small Kachin village about 20 minutes by motorcycle from Dawthponeyan.
The Myanmar army column that torched Longjonyang village reportedly suffered casualties after being intercepted by Kachin Independence Army (KIA) troops.
The Myanmar army has continuously moved troops into the Nam Sam Yang area near Laiza, where the KIO is headquartered, via Myitkyina and Bhamo roads and conducted offensives, resulting in regular clashes between the two sides, locals reported.
Sent by KNG.