By Kantarawaddy Times
IDPs in eastern Loikaw Township, Karenni State, have been forced to relocate again as junta attacks have intensified since the first week of September, according to sources close to the situation.
Some residents have also returned to Loikaw city because of the local security situation and various other reasons, said U Ba Nyar, Joint Secretary (2) of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC).
“We do stay in touch with the township official, so we know some of what’s happening. Mainly, because of drone attacks, launching a military column operation and aerial attacks in previous weeks, quite a lot of the people who had taken shelter in the Parlaung and Daw Ta Yoe areas, almost half, I’d say, have gone back into Loikaw, as far as we know. We’ve also heard that in the past few days, people returning to Loikaw city have been arrested and interrogated,” U Ba Nyar said.
The junta has been interrogating and arresting residents returning to Loikaw city, questioning them not only about the situation of IDPs but also about the movements and activities of resistance forces, sources say.
Clashes between junta troops and resistance forces have been occurring in the Loikaw area since early September, according to a male administrative official from eastern Loikaw Township.
During these clashes, the junta has carried out ground offensives as well as aerial and drone attacks in an effort to retake control of the area, the official said.
“In my own view, this is likely aimed at gaining control of the hill-ridge area in eastern Loikaw, and also at letting residents move back into town. The last time they clashed directly with resistance forces, they took heavy losses, so now it’s more a case of suicide drones and airstrikes,” said the male administrative official from eastern Loikaw Township.
Junta airstrikes and drone attacks on eastern Loikaw and Hsomo PraySoeLay (Shadaw) Township between September 4 and 8 killed five civilians, including young children, and injured at least 15 others, it is reported. The attacks also destroyed several civilian homes.
At present, an exact count of displaced people has not yet been compiled, and the on-the-ground situation of IDPs also remains difficult to assess, the official from eastern Loikaw said.
