The military council which launched an offensive in late March has stepped up its operation in Karenni State with the use of the excessive number of soldiers, an information officer of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) said.
“The military council mainly uses an excessive number of soldiers. The military abandoned the dead soldiers. Soldiers have to fight to death. The army advances with the use of many soldiers. The army is using this tactic,” the information officer said.
In March and till the first week of April, the number of junta soldiers killed in the clashes reached around 300. According to the KNDF’s statement released on 3 April, the number of soldiers killed in the fighting reached 281. According to the statement released on 8 April, ten more soldiers died.
Till date since 9 March, fighting has intensified in the eastern part of Demoso Township of Karenni State.
The military council is carrying out the reinforcement of troops in the eastern part of Demoso Township by using helicopters as it suffers heavy casualties, the information officer continued.
Khu Ree Du, military chief of the KNDF told the Kantarawaddy Times: “At present, our revolutionary forces are doing our best for resistance and offensive. It is difficult to say the exact number of the junta soldiers.”
The military council is conducting offensive operations in Loikaw, Demoso, Bawlakhe and Hpasaung in Karenni State and Pinlaung and Pekon Townships in southern Shan State.
The troops which may be included in the operation in the eastern part of Demoso Township: are MOC 515, 516 and 517 and 12 infantry battalions and township-based battalions. The KNDF is unable to confirm whether other battalions are included in the offensive or not, the KNDF’s information officer said.
Some junta soldiers who arrived in the frontlines defected with or without arms as they felt depressed. However, the military council is always carrying out the reinforcements of troops, he said.
More than 30,000 IDPs including locals from the eastern part of Demoso Township have fled to another place.
They moved to Loikaw Township and the western part of Demoso Township. Some locals remain there, according to the KT’s ground reporter.
“Some people remain there. But that number is low. Some people have no places to flee to. Some people remain there as they cannot carry rice and paddy. They will remain there until the soldiers enter. But some people will stay there even if they die. Some people worry that they may face hunger if they flee to town and other places. They can survive if they find vegetables,” said the KT’s ground reporter who quoted the locals.
Fighting continues to intensify as the military council is conducting an offensive in the eastern part of Demoso Township.
Currently, there are 250,000 IDPs in Karenni State. They are in urgent need of rations and medicine.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times
