The Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC) reports that 48 civilians were killed and 142 injured in Karenni (Kayah) State in six months due to human rights violations by the military junta.
According to the IEC, during the 6-month period from January to June 2024, most of the civilian casualties were caused by airstrikes and artillery shelling. Other causes included shootings, executions after being captured as human shields, accidental weapons discharge, drone attacks and landmines.
Fighting also resumed in some wards of Loikaw in July this year, and there were civilian casualties on 4 July, said U Banyar, IEC Secretary-2.
“We have learned that three civilians were killed on 4 July. We know roughly that they died from artillery shelling during the fighting in Loikaw.”
Over the past six months, nine children, two women, four men and one unidentified person were killed due to the junta’s airstrikes. In addition, nine children, 14 women and 12 men were injured, according to the IEC.
According to data collected by the IEC, five children, three women and two men were killed by artillery shelling, while 45 children, four women and five men were injured.
In the first week of July, military tensions and fighting between the junta forces and the joint resistance forces in Karenni State continued.
Col. the Adjutant General of the Karenni Army (KA), said that despite the ongoing military tension and fighting making it unsafe for civilians to return home, some people have returned to live in Loikaw’s wards.
“They shouldn’t return to the battlefield yet. Some are in Hmaing Lone, Ywar Tan Shey and Mya Ka Lat Taung. But most of them are in Nant Baw Wan. There are more enemies and civilians in Nant Baw Wan. I don’t know how many villagers are there and how many have died. We need to continue to watch the situation,” said Colonel Bone Naing.
Despite repeated warnings to people not to return home yet, some have returned out of concern for their villages and homes. The joint Karenni resistance forces say they have to be careful to avoid civilian casualties during the fighting.
However, according to a bi-weekly statement by the Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN), 543 people have been killed, 374 arrested and 633 injured in the more than three years since the military coup in Karenni state. According to KCSN, all those arrested, killed and injured are civilians.
Sent by NMG.
