By Kantarawaddy Times
The Karenni resistance is fighting the Burma Army (BA) for control of a central town in Pekon Township, southern Shan State, which the regime’s forces have invaded parts of and at same time shelling from the outskirts and surrounding villages.
“Currently, Mobye remains a battleground,” said a Mobye People’s Defence Force (PDF) officer, explaining they’re facing off with the BA after a lull in violence following two significant battles early and late last month.
During the attacks, the regime launched fifteen airstrikes on the town, killing six civilians, including three children under ten, while thirteen have been wounded. 5.000 people have fled into the jungle or sought refuge from the violence in other places and are in urgent need of assistance.
“We cannot fully control Mobye or predict when that will happen…It’s not yet safe for the displaced civilians to return,” he told Kantarawaddy Times, explaining that there are many concealed landmines in the outskirts of Mobye and surrounding villages
According to the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), which is also fighting the BA, along with the Karenni Army, Karenni Generation Z, United Resistance Force and other PDF chapters from Pekon, Loikaw, Demawso, Naypyidaw, 80 regime soldiers died in September. The group said that only 9 resistance fighters were killed and one soldier from KNDF Battalion 3 is still reported missing in action.
From 8 to 12 September, the BA attacked Moybe from Warisu Palai until it was forced to retreat. The regime’s second attack came on 19 September, when its troops took up positions on the site of a Roman Catholic church, in Pwe Kon ward, in Loi Ying Mingalar village, on Karla Wari and Sitt Taw Yar hills.
