The Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) reports that the military junta has again resorted to chemical agent tablets as weapons during armed clashes with resistance forces in the Shan-Karenni border town of Moebye.
“According to our ground troops, they’re experiencing the same symptoms again. Dizziness, vomiting, and paralysis are recurring. These are the aftereffects of inhaling the poison gas,” said Tar Eh Soe, KNDF’s information officer.
A KNDF soldier said that during battles between the junta troops and resistance forces this week, the poisonous tablets were dropped either by aircraft or drones during attacks.
According to KNDF sources, last December, Light Infantry Battalion 422 based outside Moebye town conducted drone bombing attacks on the town and surrounding areas, using tablets labeled “S-PHOS 560” containing chemical agents.
“Although we don’t yet know the exact type of poison gas being used again, based on the symptoms, it’s likely the same S-PHOS 560 chemical agent tablets used previously,” Tar Eh Soe added.
Meanwhile, military tensions remain high in Moebye, with the military junta conducting airstrikes and reusing chemical agent tablets. The KNDF Battalion 3 commander posted the following on his Facebook page on 23 February.
“They’re using poison gas again. They’re using more aircraft. The situation on the ground is extremely tense. Please pay attention to Moebye. We’ll continue fighting at our best, so please contribute what you can. Think about what you can do and participate in the best way possible during this time.”
On 19 February, airstrikes by the military junta caused fires that destroyed some civilian homes in Moebye town.
KNDF Battalion 3 and Moebye PDF jointly issued a statement on 21 February warning civilians to avoid traveling through the militarily tense Shan-Karenni border town of Moebye from 24 to 28 February.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times