The military council brutally killed three monks and 30 locals who are taking shelter at a monastery in Namname village in Pinlaung Township in southern Shan State, according to the statement released by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) on the evening of 12 March.
According to the KNDF’s statement, on 11 March, the military council entered the areas near Namname village by firing heavy shells and conducting airstrikes. Then, they killed locals and monks. Twenty-eight of 30 missing people were found dead.
“Victims were forced to wait in line in front of the monastery and then brutally shot dead,” the KNDF’s information officer said.
A combined force of the KNDF, the Karenni Army (KA) and the People’s Defense Force (PDF) found the junta soldiers entering the village. However, they could not help rescue the victims as the military column comprises many soldiers, according to the statement.
Pro-military Telegram channel states that 24 PDFs were shot dead by snipers at the pagoda and monasteries. The photos released by the military council show the burning houses. Locals said the military council burned down more than 40 buildings including houses and monasteries on a single day.
“Currently, the military council troops are stationed on the hill near Namname village. Fighting continues,” the information officer of the KNDF said.
There has been intense fighting in Pinlaung Township for three weeks since the end of February. During the battles, the military council conducted airstrikes and artillery shelling.
On 10 March, the military council’s artillery shelling killed a man in the village. Due to the battle, around 8,000 locals are taking shelter in nearby villages and monasteries, the people helping the Internally Displaced People (IDPs).
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times