September 30th, 2022
Eleven civilians were killed and 22 others injured during two weeks due to the military council’s landmines and heavy shelling in Kayah (Karenni) State and Pekon Township in southern Shan State, according to the Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN).
The KCSN issued the report on casualties recorded from September 12th to 25th.
Khu Ruby, Spokesperson of the KCSN said: “Twenty-two civilians were injured and 11 others killed during two weeks. The casualties are linked to heavy shells and landmines. These numbers are within our reach. There may be unreported casualties.”
“Two children were killed by heavy shelling during two weeks. Among those injured is the baby less than one year,” Khu Ruby added.
On September 16th, the heavy shell fired by the military council landed in the compound of Mwaytaw pagoda in Moebye, killing four civilians including two children and injuring 13 others, according to the KCSN’s statement issued on September 28th.
The military council’s heavy shelling killed and injured locals. The army arrested and used 100 civilians from a monastery in Moebye Township as human shields, the KCSN says.
“The army uses the stranded people as human shields. As far as I know, the army has not released all detainees yet. The army is likely to step up its offensive,” Khu Ruby said.
The military council is committing violations of human rights against locals in Moebye in southern Shan State and in Karenni State, the KCSN says.
On September 17th, there were clashes between the military council and the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) in Nwarnawow, Padarnyay and Kayantharyar at the exit of Loikaw in Karenni State. The heavy shells fired by the army hit and injured a man, a woman and a child.
On September 21st, Loikaw artillery force indiscriminately fired heavy shells into Saungkan village in Loikaw Township although there were no clashes. Two heavy shells landed on the village, killing a 60-year-old man, according to the KCSN’s statement.
A 40-year-old man got wounds to his leg in the west of Demawso as he stepped on a landmine planted by the military council. A 10-month-old baby also got minor injuries. They got injured when they returned to their village by motorbike to collect rations, said the spokesperson of the KCSN.
On September 22th, the heavy shell fired by Demawso-based No.102 battalion into the east of Demawso hit and killed a 20-year-old woman who was working in a peanut plantation.
Following the coup, fighting has been taking place between the Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations (EROs), the PDFs and the military council in almost all regions and states. Locals suffer various kinds of human rights violations committed by the military council, locals and human rights activists say.
Sent by NMG