The military junta continues to bomb Hsipaw town in Shan State day and night, forcing more than 1,500 displaced people from wards and over 10 villages to flee to safety again, who are now in urgent need of food, according to local sources.
Since the last week of September, the military has been bombing downtown wards in Hsipaw almost daily with airplanes before and after midnight, when people are asleep, locals report.
As a result, residents Hsipaw and over 10 villages have once again fled to monasteries in Kun Kyawng, Baw Kyo and Naung Kat. According to the locals, the more than 1,500 displaced people need food.
A local man from Hsipaw said: “They say there is an IDP camp in Pong Hpan. At least 10 villages had to flee again. There are probably over 1,500 people, including children and adults. In Ton Hsint, Zat Su and Kyawng Pying, no one was left behind to take care of their homes. That area was bombed. The TNLA says it’s because of the security situation, and they only allow people to return to Ton Hsint once to get their belongings.”
Around 6 pm on 2 October, the military again bombed the vicinity of the military junta’s remaining Infantry Battalion 23 in Ton Hsint Ward in Hsipaw, according to locals.
As a result, residents of wards and villages such as Ton Hsint, Sam Hpeik, Zat Su, Kyawng Pying, Moe Tay, Kun San Leik, Man Mai and Hseng Hkawng have again fled to the villages of Kun Kyawng, Baw Kyo, Naung Kat and Pong Hpan, according to Hsipaw residents.
“They have come to attack the area near Infantry Battalion 23 where fighting is taking place. The area around Ton Hsint and near the military position. They came with jet fighters to attack. There are no working telephone lines in Hsipaw now. They usually come to bomb in the early night and early morning. We’re worried about the Ton Hsint and Kyawng Pying areas. Both the Kokang and Palaung forces are now in Hsipaw,” the local continued.
Communication in Hsipaw remains difficult as phone lines are still down. Details of casualties and damage to houses caused by yesterday’s (2 Oct.) airstrikes are not yet known, the man added.
The junta’s LIB 505 and 506 stationed in Nam Lan town in Hsipaw Township, also fired heavy shells indiscriminately, causing explosions in the neighborhood and frightening residents, according to Nam Lan residents.
“Yesterday, they fired heavy weapons from inside the Nam Lan battalion. I don’t know if they changed their weapons, but the sound was louder than before. They fired from inside the base at around 11am. We also hear gunshots from time to time, but we don’t know exactly where because it’s far away,” said a woman from Namlan.
On 29 September, fighting broke out between junta troops and Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) troops between Nar Ma Hkaw and Kaung Het villages near Nam Lan. Passing passenger vehicles were fired upon, killing two passengers and injuring four others, including two women.
From 28 to 30 September, four residents were killed and 11 others injured in three consecutive days of airstrikes in Hsipaw, according to the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) Information Department.
The TNLA and allied forces captured two junta-controlled LIB 503 and 504 in Hsipaw in the last week of September and continue to attack the remaining IB 23.
Sent by Shan News.