Residents of Hokat, Yaekyi and Tharpadaung villages in Myitkyina Township, Kachin State, have reportedly begun to leave their homes again for fear of a possible resurgence of fighting less than three years after returning to their villages.
Clashes had erupted in the villages between military council troops and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on 1 March. As a result, tensions between the two sides remain high, forcing some 200 residents to flee to Pharaw village, a displaced person told KNG.
“It’s not safe because there are junta soldiers in the villages. We’re worried that they will beat us up and arrest us. And both sides won’t retreat. That’s why we left our villages this morning,” he said.
Currently, residents of Tharpadaung, Hokat, Kawngra, Tainglwun and Yaekyi villages have fled and sought refuge at the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) since 4 March.
The villages of Hokat, Tharpadaung and Yaekyi are located on the outskirts of Myitkyina along the Irrawaddy River. The residents of these villages had been displaced to Myitkyina nearly a decade ago due to the fighting between regime army and the KIA in 2011.
Some of them returned to their homes in 2019 under the National League for Democracy (NLD) government’s resettlement program, while others didn’t return until 2022.
Residents had to flee their homes again due to tensions caused by the 1 March fighting, but they plan to return to their villages once the regime troops leave, one of the residents said.
“We’ll return as soon as the military situation calms down. Right now, it’s favorable for us because everyone has provided us with food,” he said.
The estimated 200 military council soldiers operating along Hokat and Yaekyi villages are the military columns that came from Myitkyina and Sinbo.
Sent by KNG.