Kha Lae – Dagon Tie residents flee as military fires heavy weapons into villages

June 3, 2022

HURFOM: There has been prolonged fighting between the Burmese military and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) at Kha Lae – Dagon Tie region, Kyarinnseikyi Township, in Karen State,

The Burmese military has been shooting heavy weapons into nearby villages forcing residents to flee their homes..

On May 29, 2022, a heavy weapon exploded near a house in Nan Tie Tun village and a woman was killed, and a youth was injured. The next day, the military continued their use of heavy weapons.

“There are no villagers in Kha Lae, Dagon Tie and Nan Tie Tun villages. All of them ran away. A heavy weapon exploded (in the village) yesterday and the villagers were frightened. Today, the villagers heard the sounds of heavy weapons fire – they dare not stay in the villages,” said a 60-year-old man from Kha Lae village.

The Burmese military is based at the police station in Dagon Tie village and the KLNA has frequently launched attacks on the military. During the armed clashes, nearby No. 308 Artillery Battalion used heavy weapons to help the Burmese soldiers. These exploded in the villages, killing and injuring local villagers.

“Our region is controlled by Karen (KNLA) so the Karen army is active here. They patrol villages with two or three vehicles each full of soldiers. Armed clashes happen frequently. If the Burmese army has decided to invade (and control) this area, there will be a major fight. We, the villagers, will surely be in trouble if the armed clash occurs,” said a social activist from Dagon Tie village.

Local Karen residents have fled to nearby Mon villages such as Lie Ka Ni village. As of today, around 10,000 of local residents have had to flee their home, according to a Karen news source.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News