October 27, 2022
More than 1,500 locals from six villages in northern Arakan State, who are displaced by the junta’s artillery shelling are facing livelihood difficulties.
The people from Chaungtu, Kwanohnsu, Ywetngotaung and Daywon villages in Kyauktaw Township have fled to safer places as the Myanmar army’s battalion-539 at the foot of Kansauk Mountain in Kyauktaw Township and Buddaw, Aung Mingalar (Petkhwatseik) villages in Ponnagyun Township is firing heavy shells every day.
Currently, the villagers are taking shelter in Yoetayoke, Ngapyaukse, Ganantaung and Myathle villages in Ponnagyun Township.
U Maung San Win, the administrator of Ganantaung village said: “The people from Chaungtu village are taking shelter at a makeshift tent near Ganantaung railway station. They are staying in Chaungtu village. They could not bring rations along with them when they fled the village. Currnelty, they are facing accommodation and livelihood difficulties. There are no donors.”
“Battalion-539 fires heavy shells, not regularly. Heavy shells landed near our village. The villagers flee the village as they don’t dare to live. Some people flee to their relative houses while some others are taking shelter at temporary tents in the villages,” he said.
The people from Buddaw village in Ponnagyun Township fled the village as the soldiers of the strategic hill, stationed on Nanwin Mountain, forced them to send rations.
A village from Buddaw villages said: “They (soldiers) forced the villagers to buy and sent rations. The locals fled the villages as they no longer dared to stay. Artillery shells land on paddy fields. We have to flee without harvesting. We have to build makeshift tents near our relatives’ houses. We have difficulties”
When the DMG phoned Arakan State Minister for Security and Border Affairs Col Kyaw Thura about the villagers’ accusations of the frequent artillery shelling by the Battalion-539 stationed at the foot of Kansauk mountain and forced transport of rations on Nanwin mountain, he is unavailable for comment.
There was a clash as the Arakan Army (AA) ambushed a military column which sent rations near the milepost between Ponnagyun Township and Kyauktaw Township on September 29. After that, the military is firing heavy shells every day. The heavy shells being fired by Battalion-539 land near Ywetnyotaung and Daywon villages. There are no reports of casualties. However, five cows were killed in the heavy shelling, according to locals.
Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)