October 5th, 2022
There are growing fears among locals as the military council’s No.539 Battalion based in Kansauk in Kyauktaw Township in Arakan State is firing heavy shells into the villages on the afternoon of October 4th.
“Since around 1.30 pm, the Kansauk-based No.539 Battalion in Kyauktaw Township fired heavy shells into Ywetmanyo and Phayapaw mountains near Ponnagyun sub-township near Sittwe-Kyauktaw road, without any clashes. In the previous days, the military also fired heavy shells without any reason,” a local says.
The people from Ywetmanyotaung, Phayapawtaung, Daywon and Daywonchaung fled to safer places as the military council fired heavy shells without any reason.
“Ywetmanyotaung village is very close to No.539 Battalion which is firing heavy shells. The sounds of heavy shells are very loud. There is a village at the foot of the mountain. Villagers have fled to safer places as they fear that the heavy shells may land on the village,” a local said.
The military council force is firing heavy shells near the villages several times. The heavy shells killed and injured the people.
“The military council fired 18 rounds of heavy shells into Ywetmanyotaung village and the mountains near the village. The firing of heavy shelling stopped at around 2.45 pm. I don’t know why the military council is firing heavy shells. The heavy shelling hit and killed the ordinary people. The heavy shells damaged the houses and killed the people. The shelling killed cows,” he added.
The people from Daywon and Chaungtu villages near the border of Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun Townships have fled their villages as the military is firing heavy shells constantly. The people from Buddaw, Kwanohnsone and Ywetnyotaung (Phayapaw) villages also fled to safer places.
So far, the total number of the villagers who have fled their villages has exceeded 1,000.
On September 29th, the Arakan Army (AA) ambushed the military column which carried rations near Buddaw village located on the border of Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun Townships. Following the ambush, the military council fired heavy shells into nearby villages without any reason, killing cows and destroying the houses.
Sent by Khaing Lu Hla (Roma Myay)