More than 3,000 people have fled their homes as military council troops launched a large-scale offensive in the Dawei Ashae Taw area of Dawei Township, Tanintharyi Region, according to local residents.
Local residents reported that since 29 April, a military column of over 200 soldiers has been advancing from Dawei toward the Htee Khee area in Dawei Ashae Taw.
The presence of the military council’s troops has forced residents from nearby villages — including Tha Yet Ngoke, Thin Gan Tone, and Wa Kone in the Dawei Ashae Taw area — to flee their homes.
Villagers from the Dawei Ashae Taw area reported that those who did not flee when military council troops entered were arrested, killed, or used as human shields.
They reported that junta troops arrived near Wa Kone Village on the morning of 30 April, but no clashes occurred between the junta and resistance forces.
On 19 April, locals reported that the military council bombed the Htee Khee border and Taung Thone Lone village after revolutionary forces captured the military council’s strategic Htee Hta base near the Htee Khee border.
Since 20 April, more than 1,000 local residents from Myitta, Htee Khee, Taung Thone Lone village and Kyauk Me Taung village have fled due to the constant aerial bombings and artillery shelling.
According to the resistance forces, the military council is reinforcing the Htee Khee border in an attempt to retake the Htee Hta strategic base.
Sent by Than Lwin Times