Kantarawaddy Times
Battles between the military junta forces and joint local revolutionary groups occurred on the eastern side of Pekhon Lake due to the military offensive, near the Shan–Karenni border, forcing remaining civilians in the area to flee once again.
As the junta’s forces advance, more people are being forced to evaluate. Some organizations have been providing assistance to those displaced people, according to a man from the eastern side of Pekhon.
“It was just yesterday (July 9). We had to flee again. Some groups came to assist us,” said the local man.
Currently, since it is the farming season, this situation makes it difficult for people to abandon their homes and land. Some villagers who have invested heavily in their fields are staying behind in hopes of harvesting their crops, a local woman explained.
“Those who stayed behind are worried too, because we from the east had just planted crops. Some people have big farms worth hundreds of thousands of kyat in investment. It’s not easy to leave everything behind. So, some people are still hoping to harvest. But the biggest problem right now is not having any money on hand,” said the local woman.
On July 1, the military junta regained control of Moebye at the Shan–Karenni border and began advancing toward Saung Kan Shan village. This led to clashes with local revolutionary forces.
Due to the junta’s various strategies in its offensives, the Interim Executive Council (IEC) of Karenni State Secretary (2), U Ba Nyar, urged civilians to follow instructions issued by local authorities strictly.
“At the moment, the situation is becoming more intense militarily. Because the junta is using various offensive strategies, we want the public to follow the guidance from respective townships, departments, and battalions as much as possible. The reason we say this is to protect the lives and property of our people and prevent unnecessary deaths and losses in the revolution,” said U Ba Nyar, Secretary (2) of the IEC.
Due to the ongoing clashes, artillery shells have landed along major roads used by fleeing civilians, locals say.
Junta forces and the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) joint troops have advanced toward eastern Pekhon from the direction of Saung Nan Khae village. They have also launched additional offensives from Mobye toward Saung Kan Shan, causing widespread displacement among the local population.
