July 5th, 2022
According to the Karen National Union (KNU), 12 civilians were killed and 15 wounded by the State Administration Council (SAC) and Border Guard Forces (BGF) in Karen State in June alone.
The KNU said in a statement released on June 4th that they were shot or wounded by junta forces and BGF or by heavy artillery fire.
Twelve innocent civilians were killed in the shooting and artillery fire by the SAC, including a monk, the KNU statement said.
In addition, 15 innocent civilians, including a monk, were wounded by artillery fire from the coup regime and the BGF, the statement said.
The junta forces and BGF have threatened and intimidated civilians, arrested and tortured them after launching military operations and extending their forces into KNU territory.
In addition, they have stolen people’s property, illegally confiscated their livestock, and looted and destroyed their rice, the KNU said.
The ethnic armed group further said that the SAC forces and BGF also set fire to people’s houses and buildings.
In June 2022, heavy artillery shelling by the SAC and BGF on villages and workplaces damaged 75 houses, two monasteries and two schools. They also burned 61 houses, the statement said.
The SAC troops and BFG forcibly made civilians lead them in their military operations and transport their food and supplies. They have also forcibly taken vehicles from the population.
The ongoing fighting between the SAC and KNU in the areas of KNU Brigade 1 (Thaton District), Brigade 2 (Taungoo District), Brigade 3 (Nyaung Lay Pin District) and Brigade (Myeik-Dawei District) have forced local residents to flee to nearby areas and forests, and they are in need of emergency aid as well as food.
Sent by NMG