Palaw Township in Tanintharyi Region has seen intense fighting and the rising number of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) as the military council is conducting offensive operations.
The military declared martial law in Palaw Township.
A 30-year-old woman from Palaw Township said: “They (soldiers) suddenly entered the village. We could bring nothing as they carried out indiscriminate shootings and artillery shelling. We fled for safety.”
Due to the strong armed resistance by the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), fighting has intensified between the military council and the PDFs. The military council is trying to control Palaw Township which sees strong armed resistance. On the other hand, the PDFs frequently conducted military operations to recapture the territories.
“The army frequently conducts military operations. There are frequent clashes between the military column and local defense forces. The PDFs frequently throw grenades at the military gates here,” the IDP woman said.
There were at least 29 clashes between the military council and the PDFs and six ambushes in late February.
There were more than ten battles in Palaw Township which is the best place of territorial control and strong armed resistance.
The military columns entered the villages. Thousands of locals have fled to safer places due to the military council’s artillery shelling, burning of houses and the arrests and killings of villagers.
Till March, the number of IDPs in Palaw Township reached over 25,000, according to the persons helping the IDPs.
“There are a lot of necessities. Due to an increase in the number of IDPs, we face difficulty. No one dares to return home as fighting continues,” said Ko Kyaw Kyaw (not real name) who is helping the IDPs in Palaw.
The military council troops are conducting offensive operations in Palaw with the use of excessive forces. Since the third week of February, the military council has banned the purchase and transport of fuels and rations.
A 20-year-old local from Palaw said: “We cannot buy fuels at fuel stations. The junta has banned motorbikes in the villages of Palaw. They (soldiers) check and seize motorbikes citing various reasons and extort money.”
Ko Kyaw Kyaw (not real name) said: “We are trying to sufficiently provide aid for the IDPs as the number of IDPs is rising. The military council’s ban on the transport of fuel and rations make the supply of aid more difficult.”
“We find it difficult to buy fuel as the army doesn’t allow the public to transport fuel. Foodstuff prices have gone up as fuel prices have increased two and three times. The number of IDPs has increased. It causes a burden as we cannot transport foodstuff,” he said.
The National Unity Government (NUG) is providing aid for the IDPs in cooperation with township PDFs and the Public Administrative Bodies. However, the NUG’s aid has not directly reached out to the IDPs on the ground, the persons helping the IDPs pointed out.
The IDPs said they are in need of the NUG’s humanitarian assistance.
From 1 February, 2021 to February, 2023, there were 358 battles between the military council and the PDFs, 243 bomb blasts, ambushes and drone attacks and 397 assassinations and civilian casualties in Tanintharyi Region, according to the Southern Monitor, a research organization.
The conflicts killed 394 civilians and wounded 146 others.
The military and its allies burned down 435 civilian houses, according to the statement by the Southern Monitor.
Sent by IMNA