Military junta soldiers have reportedly threatened residents of Loikaw with shots for trying to put out fires in their homes in Loikaw, Karenni (Kayah) State.
According to residents, fighting broke out in some wards of the city and the soldiers set fire to residents’ homes.
“They burned the houses. They shot at us when we tried to check. Fortunately, we weren’t hit. They (the junta soldiers) entered the empty houses and took what they wanted,” said a resident of Pan Kan Ward in Loikaw, who experienced this first-hand.
Since the junta entered and increased its presence in Mong Long Ward and surrounding areas of Loikaw in the last week of June, there have been clashes with local resistance forces in Mong Long, Ywar Tan Shey, Htu Du Ngan Tha, Loikaw Technological University, Mya Kalat Taung and Pan Kan wards.
On the other hand, some displaced residents of Loikaw returned home following the junta’s propaganda that it had regained control of Loikaw and taken over the administration, according to locals.
However, a resident of Mong Long Ward in Loikaw said that they had to flee again due to renewed fighting between the junta troops and local resistance forces.
“Even though we didn’t really believe the news, we had to come back because we could no longer afford to stay in other towns and villages. Now the ward I live in is not stable yet, so I have to stay at Sein Ta Lone Monastery,” said the Mong Long ward resident.
According to local residents, most of the houses of the displaced Loikaw residents were broken into and looted.
One resident said that the looters operate in the wards where fighting is taking place and share the stolen goods with the junta soldiers.
“In the first days of fighting in Pan Kan, residents were not allowed to go home and check their houses. Thieves can break in and steal things by sharing the stolen goods with the soldiers. Both the black market for stolen goods and black market dealers operate quite openly. Everyone knows about it, but no one does anything,” said a resident of Loikaw.
According to a statement issued by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) on 3 August, more than 90 houses of residents in Mong Long, Ywar Tan Shey and Pan Kan were destroyed by artillery shelling, drone attacks and arson by the military in July. The resistance group has advised the displaced residents not to return home yet as the fighting continues.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times.