September 16th, 2022
Fighting between military council forces and the Karen National Union (KNU) in Nyaunglaybin District in Bago Region is expected to intensify as the military junta sends more troops, in addition to daily clashes between the two sides, according to a Karen social affairs group.
“Clashes between the two sides also occurred this morning in the hills nearby. The clashes are taking place sporadically, as they do every day. We heard artillery fire from about 6:00 am to about 8:30 am. It happened in the Naungkone village, from which residents fled this morning. That’s not far from here,” said a person in charge of the Karen social group in Mone Township.
Clashes also reportedly occurred near Kyaukkyi Township.
The statement released by the KNU Central Committee on September 14th said that from September 7th to 13th, fighting occurred between the KNU and junta forces returning from the KNU Brigade 5 area.
The clashes between the two sides erupted when an estimated 200 soldiers from the three junta battalions, 48, 440 and 598, entered areas secured by Battalion 3 of the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO).
As the military council has increased its troops in the areas, fighting in Nyaunglaybin District is likely to become more intense than before, according to the Karen social affairs group.
“This is likely because [the junta troops] were brought into the areas only about an hour ago with two light trucks. One light truck can carry 18 to 20 people. So, there can be 30 to 40 soldiers transported in two light trucks. That is just reinforcements for an area where there was fighting this morning. In addition, nine military vehicles carrying troops from the 77th Division were transported to Baw Ka Dar in Kyaukkyi around 5 a.m.,” he said.
“They brought back the empty vehicles after dropping off the troops at Baw Ka Daw gate. I think they are on their way to the upper part of the area. They [junta troops] clashed with KNU forces when they came down from there a couple of a few days ago. The skirmish broke out in the field near our village,” he added.
In addition to the KNU-administered area of Brigade 3 in Nyaunglaybin District, fighting is also reported to be taking place every day in Brigade 1 in Thaton District, Brigade 2 in Taungoo District, Brigade 4 in Myeik-Dawei District, Brigade 5 in Mutraw (Hpapun) District and Brigade 6 in Dooplaya District.
Fighting may soon intensify as the military council is deploying more troops to other KNU brigade-controlled areas these days, the Karan social affairs group said.
Sent by NMG.