Kantarawaddy Times
Recent battles have happened in and around Pekhon, in southern Shan State. The military junta forces have set fire to civilian homes, according to local sources.
On the afternoon of October 23, around 2 p.m., he witnessed homes burning near the hospital area in Pekhon, a local man told Kantarawaddy Times.
“I saw smoke rising from the hospital area, but I couldn’t see all the details from afar. There was heavy smoke. Due to this situation, the residents are not able to return to their homes yet,” he said.
Due to frequent battles in Pekhon, many residents have not returned to live in the area. Locals only go back occasionally to check on their homes or collect belonging stuffs.
The fightings in and around Pekhon, including near the Pekhon-Pinlaung border, has continued for over a month. The battles have involved airstrikes and scouting flights conducted daily by junta forces, according to local reports.
“The locals haven’t returned to where they(junta) are burning. But some places they’re targeting are close to where the displaced people are taking shelter. There are fights on both the border and in town, and airstrikes are happening nearly every day,” the local added.
Since October 15, resistance forces have reported attempts by military forces to advance from Pinlaung toward Pekhon. However, the resistance groups haven’t released official statements about the latest situation in the ongoing fighting.
