A woman was reportedly killed and two others injured when an unguided rocket fired by Myanmar Army troops hit an IDP camp in Theinni Township, Shan State.
The unguided rocket, fired by junta troops on the morning of 4 December, landed and exploded in the compound of Kyawnghkam Monastery in Theinni Township. One woman in her 60s suffered a shock and two other people were injured.
In addition, displaced people report that both Brotherhood Alliance and military council troops are using about 1,300 displaced civilians who have taken refuge at Kyawnghkam Monastery in Theinni Township as human shields.
A displaced person from Theinni said, “An unguided rocket hit the monastery compound this morning. Two 63-year-old women were injured by the blast and another woman in her 60s died from the shock. Previously, only the military council had forbidden the displaced persons to leave or enter the camp. But even the Kokang army no longer allows IDPs to leave the camp. To put it simply: Both sides are using the IDPs as human shields”
After the start of Operation 1027, almost 3,000 IDPs were forced to flee to safer places such as nearby villages and towns due to difficulties in getting food and shelter. According to people helping the displaced, there are currently around 1,300 displaced people still in the camp.
“There is no fighting in the town, but the fear of heavy weapons and airstrikes remains. The police station is the only military base in Theinni town. The Kokang army troops have captured the police station and government offices and thus control the town. But the allied forces have not captured the Military Operations Command 19,” the displaced person from Theinni further explained the battle situation.
Military Operations Command -69 stationed in Theinni is opposite the monastery, while MOC-323 and MOC-16 are next to it. Amid the daily clashes between the military and the Brotherhood, the approximately 1,300 civilians taking shelter there are being used as human shields by both sides, according to a displaced resident from Theinni.
“We are worried about the displaced people who are caught in the crossfire at Kyawnghkam Monastery, which is opposite the MOC-69 base. Since the fighting started, people from places like Hotah and Weinnang have fled here because they thought it was safe. But now neither the military nor the Kokang army will let them go,” said another displaced person from Theinni.
According to displaced people in Theinni, three men were killed and three women injured when artillery shells hit the Kyawnghkam Monastery in the first week of November.
Sent by Shan Herald.
