November 30, 2022
The military council has called on locals displaced by intense fighting between the military council and a combined force of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the Cobra column, to return home after the military council reentered Thae Baw Bo village, a local says.
On November 27, the military council’s column could reenter Thae Baw Bo village.
“Yesterday, the military council met officials from relevant villages and told them to make the return of displaced villagers. The military council said they will not disrupt villagers. The army also met religious leaders. The army said it will not fire heavy shells into the village,” a local who said on condition of anonymity told the KIC.
The army also pledged that it will carry out landmine clearance and will not station in the village, the local continues.
The military council carried out area clearance operations from U Ka Yit Hta along Thae Baw Bo and Way Lay road section and spent several months controlling that road section.
Fighting is taking place between the Cobra column and the army almost every year. The military council had to conduct airstrikes as it suffered heavy casualties.
On November 22, the military ambushed a combined force’s vehicle loaded with ration. Some resistance fighters were killed in the ambush. The combined force had to withdraw from Thae Baw Boe area.
In addition, the villagers are fearful of the army’s demand for the return of Thae Baw Bo villagers.
Today, some locals have returned to the village to harvest their crops. The army said the members of the Karen National Union (KNU) will be allowed to travel freely, locals say.
The military officials told the villagers that the army is not attacking the KNU members.
It is carrying out attacks on the members of the People’s Defense Force (PDF) who have taken up arms following the coup. They also warned the villagers not to cooperate with the PDF members and to crush those who help them.
The commander of Division-44 from Lay Kay Kaw Artillery Hill told locals from five wards in Lay Kay Kaw, Pahekalaw, Hteemalwarkhee and Rathaegu villages, who are taking shelter along the bank of Thaungyin River, to return to their villages, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Lay Kay Kaw say.
Sent by KIC