By Kantarawaddy Times
In the last week of June, the junta’s troops, reinforcing their strength, invaded the Minelon Ward, an urban area of Loikaw, in Karenni State, and carried out military operations. The Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) reported, on the evening of July 27, stating that the troops were setting fire to and destroying the homes of local residents.
It is reported that almost daily, without any reason, the junta troops have been burning down the homes of locals in Minelon and Ywar Tan Shin wards since the military invasion until today.
“Last month, I went back to look at my house in Minelon Ward. At that time, I saw soldiers occupying the streets, so I didn’t dare to go back in. Later, I saw from a distance that my house had been set on fire. There were also clashes, so I didn’t dare to return. I heard that some people are still living in the ward,” said a resident of Loikaw.
The junta’s troops have been destroying civilian homes, looting belongings, and setting them on fire in the wards they entered. As of July 27, more than 60 homes of local residents in Minelon and Ywar Tan Shin wards have been burned down.
Since the start of 1111 military operation launched by the resistance forces in Karenni State, clashes between the revolutionary forces and the junta’s troops have continued throughout Loikaw, according to KNDF.
Since July 4, daily clashes have occurred between the junta’s troops, which invaded and took positions in the wards of Loikaw, and the KNDF, KA, and MK CDF forces.
Fierce clashes have been reported in areas such as Minelon Ward, Ywar Tan Shin Ward, Toon Du Ngatar, Loikaw Technological University, and Myakalat Tawng.
The KNDF urges caution, as the junta is encouraging city residents to return to their homes to restore their administrative machinery in the city of Loikaw, where clashes are ongoing. Additionally, the public is urged not to return home yet, to obtain accurate information from responsible authorities, prioritize their safety, and be mindful of the military situation.
According to a statement from the Progressive Karenni People’s Force (PKPF), over the three-year period since the military coup in 2021 until June 30, 2024, over 2,616 civilian homes have been destroyed in Karenni State.
