Military junta troops have burned down over 20 more houses in Ah Nan Kwin village, located on the Thanbyuzayat-Hpayarthonesu road in Kyainseikgyi Township on the border of Mon and Karen States, according to local sources.
A woman from the village, whose house was burned down, said that the junta soldiers who entered the village on 29 January burned down more than 20 houses in Ward 2 and 3.
“My house was among them. What wrong did our village and my house do? They were burning houses with such enthusiasm. It takes years of saving to build one house. They are so wicked. They’re not even human. Now they (the junta army) are all over the village,” said the woman.
Locals say that in Ah Nan Kwin village, which has over 500 households, many houses in the village have been destroyed by fire due to artillery strikes from the junta following battles. In addition, almost the entire village has been burned down by the junta troops.
Intense fighting around Ah Nan Kwin and nearby areas began in mid-August 2024 when the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied revolutionary forces attacked the junta’s strategic base camp in the village.
Due to airstrikes and artillery fire by the junta during the fighting, thousands of residents from about 10 villages near Ah Nan Kwin including Hlut Shan, Ta Nyin, and Hpar Yar have fled to safer areas and still cannot return home.
A displaced resident of Ah Nan Kwin village said: “Many houses were already destroyed because of the fighting. Now they’re burning down the remaining houses too. Ah Nan Kwin villagers have been displaced for almost a year. We’re living in other people’s houses. There are donor groups, but with so many displaced people, how sufficient can it be?”
Locals say that while joint revolutionary forces are attempting to capture the Ah Nan Kwin strategic base camp, the junta is fighting back to defend it, resulting in military tensions and nearly daily battles.
Sent by IMNA.
