The heavily guarded military council ministerial residence in Dawei, Tanintharyi Region, was attacked with heavy weapons for the third time, according to local residents.
The Longlon People’s Defence Force (LLPDF) claimed responsibility for the attack in a 23 July statement, saying it attacked the regional parliament ministers’ residence with seven 81mm motar shells at around 8:30 pm on 22 July.
A woman from Wekyun Myothit near the ministers’ residences said, “It is still early in the evening. We heard very loud explosions. Most of the explosion sounds came from the ministers’ residence compound. Since it is nearby, even the houses shook.”
The ministers’ residences were first attacked with heavy weapons on the night of 31 May and were attacked the second time on the night of 16 July. The latest attack was the third, according to residents.
The latest attack was followed after about 15 minutes by artillery fire from the hill at Theapontaung near Dawei, where Myanmar army’s artilleries are positioned, the woman said.
Dawei residents expressed concerns that bombs from the attack on the ministerial residences would fall on civilian homes in the residential area.
The LLPDF said in the statement that it carried out the attack on the ministerial residence together with a special guerrilla force and was still waiting for the military council to confirm the casualties and damage.
In a similar incident, members of the LLPDF attacked the residences of regional parliament ministers, the border affairs office, and ambush patrols of the junta army near Kamyawkin Bridge with 81mm shells at around 11 pm on 16 July, the LLPDF said.
In addition to the attacks in Dawei, the Launglon People’s Defence also launched an attack on the Maungmakan Police Station in Launglon Township in recent days, killing junta soldiers and two police officers and seriously injuring two others, local residents confirmed.
Sent by NMG.