Fighting broke out on the afternoon of June 24 when a joint force of around 1,000 junta troops and allied Pa-O National Organization (PNO) fighters, advancing toward Yay Pu village on the eastern bank of Pekon in southern Shan State, reached Saung Nang Khe village, forcing local residents to flee once again.
The joint force clashed with resistance groups, forcing the resistance to retreat from four locations: Yay Pu, Nyaung Lay Pin, Nang Toke, and Taung Poet Kwe.
An official from a resistance force stated that following a renewed offensive from Taung Poet Kwe toward Saung Nang Khe village, intense clashes erupted between the two sides, forcing the villagers to flee.
“On the evening of 24 June, we were forced to abandon Saung Nang Khe village,” said the resistance force official.
Due to the joint military column that began advancing on 2 June, residents from 15 villages on the eastern bank of Pekon Lake — including Saung Nang Khe, Lwel Paw, Nan Paw Lon, Nam Sum, Paing Nae Kone, Yay Pu, Nyaung Lay Pin, Nan Tote, Kone Thar, Taung Poet Kwe, Hopan (East), Hopan (West), La He, Ma Khe Khan, and Taung Poet Gyi — have fled their homes. Only a few people have stayed behind to watch over the villages.
A displaced man said that the remaining people are currently still fleeing.
“We still haven’t been able to return home. We remain displaced. Those who need to flee further are now preparing to escape again,” the resident said.
On 16 June, around 40,000 displaced people fleeing from the eastern bank of Pekon to Demoso faced numerous basic needs.
The Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) has called for humanitarian assistance.
Resistance forces reported that the column was burning down local homes in Saung Nang Khe village, with more than half of the houses destroyed by fire.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times