The operation of the military council’s administrative mechanism has stopped not only in Loikaw, the capital city of Karenni (Kayah), but in the entire state, officials of the Karenni State Consultative Council (KSCC) and the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) said.
Fighting continues to intensify on the ground since the “Operation 1111”, which started on 11 November in Karenni State, until 28 November. The IEC’s officials said that all the offices under the military council, which were operating before this military operation, have also stopped.
U Aung San Myint, Chair of the KSCC said: “Not only in the capital city of Loikaw, but also in the entire state of Karenni State, the administrative mechanism of the military council has stopped. We have taken control of more than 65 percent of the area. The military council is now only in their battalions in the city. The military council can’t implement their legislative, executive and judicial activities. The main purpose of this operation is to completely destroy their administrative mechanisms.”
The “Operation 1111” continues to intensify, and almost all the departmental offices in Loikaw have been suspended, U Banyar, Secretary-2 of the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC).
“There are no administrative mechanisms at all. The army is managing the city of Loikaw in the form of a battlefield. As far as we know from the township level to the ward level, they have dug trenches and built bunkers, and are firmly stationed in the buildings, U Banyar said.
Khu Plu Reh, General Secretary of IEC said: “It can be said that the military council’s administrative mechanism has already stopped in Loikaw after capital Loikaw became a war zone. Fighting is taking place.”
Currently, most of the civil servants from various departments under the military council in the capital city, Loikaw become IDPs.
A resident from Loikaw said that all the departmental offices in Loikaw were empty. Schools and offices are closed. No one dares to stay there anymore.”
Fighting continues between the joint Karenni revolutionary forces and the military council in Demoso, Phruso, Bawlakhe, Hpasawng, Mese, Shadaw and Loikaw Townships in Karenni State, according to local residents and rescue workers.
Rescue workers on the ground said that more than 60 civilians have been killed by the military council’s heavy shelling, airstrikes and attacks on pedestrians.
In addition, the defense forces and relief workers continue to evacuate the people who are trapped in Loikaw, they said.
Sent by NMG