20 April 2021
Responsible persons stated that the military junta did artillery attack within Loi Kaw Wan IDP Camp, the largest of the Shan IDP camps along Myanmar-Thai border.
Loi Kaw Wan IDP Camp is located within Myanmar’s territory along Myanmar-Thai border. In the afternoon of April 19, military junta attacked with large weapons again. “This is true they attacked with large weapons. Three missiles have been used. These missiles fell down somewhere not far away from Loi Kaw Wan Camp. It is the place where the refugees do gardening or farming. Two missiles fell down there. The dropping place of the rest has not been confirmed yet. Loi Kaw Wan is situated on the opposite side of Chiang Rai. Artillery attack had also occurred yesterday,” said Sai Leang, spokesperson of Shan State Refugee Committee (Myanmar-Thai border).
Military junta did artillery attack continually for two days upon Loi Kaw Wan Camp. Around 5 PM the evening of April 18 (Yesterday), military junta attacked with large weapons.
“Nobody was hurt. The villagers however packed their possession. They packed the important things in order to be able to run if any. They packed the things as they can carry whilst moving to safe areas,” said one responsible person of Camp.
Sai Leang stated that the refugees were worried about the possible aerial bombardments and artillery fire as happened in Karen State Brigade 5. He said, “They are concerned about the artillery fire. Another is about the aerial bombardments as like in Karen State. UWSA Base is situated near Loi Kaw Wan Camp. Again the base of military junta is also near here. Therefore, people are worried upon the possibility of using large arms by military junta. The most concerned is for safety. They are digging bomb shelters as much as they can. But such shelters can resist the small armaments. The use of large armaments is very dangerous for them.”
There are over 6,000 refugees within the territory of Myanmar on the Myanmar-Thai border. At present, they are living in Gawng Mung Mong, Loi Sarm Sip, Loi Lam and Loi Tai Leng Camps and Koung Jor Camp which is situated in Thailand.
Loi Kaw Wan, the largest of the six Shan IDP Camps, is populated the most. “There are over 6,000 people in all Shan IDP Camps, including Koung Jor Camp. More exactly there are about 6,100 people. Loi Kaw Wan alone holds over 2,600 people. If the battles are getting worse, we’ve asked the permission from Thai authority. Until now, we haven’t heard any response,” said Sai Leang.
Within the letter of Border Committee in Thailand (Mae Sai Office) to Myanmar-Thai Border Committee (Tachileik Office) on March 30, it stated that RCSS/SSA Bases on the Myanmar-Thai Border would be attacked by military junta. After this news arose, such bases were attacked through large armaments on April 18 and 19. Thus the camps located near RCSS/SSA Bases are worried for their safety and have asked the permission in advance from Thai authority in the case of serious battle.
Refugees living in Shan IDP Camps such as Loi Kaw Wan, Gawng Mung Mong, Loi Sarm Sip, Loi Lam and Koung Jor are the people who left homes because of the fighting of Ethnic Armed Organizations and Myanmar Army between 1996 and1998.
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