Junta Forces Escalate Ground Operations in Laung Lon, Causing New Wave of Displacement

June 18, 2025

HURFOM: Troop movements and intensified ground operations by the junta’s Coastal Regiment Command in Laung Lon Township, Tanintharyi Region, have once again forced hundreds of civilians to flee their homes as fear and insecurity grow across multiple villages.

According to HURFOM field reporters, junta troops—approximately 60 soldiers in strength—entered Sakhan Gyi village on 16 June and began occupying a local monastery where internally displaced persons (IDPs) had temporarily sought shelter. The troops then moved from village to village, including Khamaung Taung and Taung Min Pyaung, using these locations as temporary bases.

“They’re stationed all around our village. If we step outside, there’s a high chance we’ll be detained or mistreated,” said a woman from an IDP family who fled on June 17. “Even if they haven’t fired directly into the village, we hear artillery from nearby every day and night. It’s terrifying. If they want to arrest someone, they just do it—and sometimes, people simply disappear without any trace. That’s why we decided to leave, even if we didn’t know where we’d end up.”

The military column continued its movement on June 17, advancing from Sakhan Gyi to Taung Min Pyaung village, where they again stationed troops inside a monastery. As a result, not only residents from Taung Min Pyaung and Khamaung Taung, but also nearby villagers from Phwar Bote Pyin, have fled for safety.

Local sources reported that the junta forces are using an aggressive village-by-village advance strategy, making neighboring communities increasingly fearful that their village could be next. Many residents are packing up and fleeing preemptively, leaving behind homes, farms, and possessions.

At the same time, junta troops operating in the southern part of Laung Lon Township have also continued troop deployments and arrests. Villagers from Wai Dee, Pyin Htain, Sit Pyae, Nyin Maw, Lay Thone Khan, Ka Htaung Ni, and Kanyone Kyun have been forcibly displaced in recent days. HURFOM’s monitoring confirms that more than 40 villagers have been arbitrarily arrested during these raids.

In a related concern, junta naval ships have been patrolling the Dawei River, firing artillery toward riverside villages. Some unexploded shells have landed in farmland, causing further anxiety for farmers as they fear for their lives while tending to their crops.

Many local residents believe these military operations are connected to attempts by the junta to prevent public gatherings on June 19—the 80th birthday of detained democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The intensified military presence is widely seen as a deliberate move to block any peaceful commemorations or expressions of solidarity.

“The army doesn’t need a reason to come into our villages anymore. Even without fighting, they arrive, occupy, and people have to flee. We just want to live peacefully—but they’re turning everything into a war zone,” said a 48-year-old resident from Lay Thone Khan who is now displaced with her two children.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News