Student living in and near Three Pagoda Pass (TPP), Karen State, do not dare attend school for fear of continued fighting between the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Burmese government troops.

One TPP resident explained that parents are forbidding their children to go to school because they worry that the conflict will start up again while their child is studying. Teachers, on the other hand, have urged the students to return to school. This resident explained, “Parents are worried about their children going to school, but only a few. The Burmese army has set up increased security along the roads.”

Since the fighting began on the 8th of November in TPP, Burmese government troops have sent reinforcements to set up in the TPP area, believing that the fighting will continue for some time there.

“Rumors are spreading that there will be more fighting and no one’s sure whether to believe them or not. But, we are staying alert even though the town is basically back to normal,” another resident said.

Similarly, parents from villages near TPP, in Japanese Well Village, controlled by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) in Mon State, have expressed reluctance to send their children to school, explained a male villager there.

Fighting in TPP began on November 8th between Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Battalion No. 907 and Burmese government troops. In two days, thousands of refugees fled for the Thai side of the TPP border crossing. On the evening of November 10th, Burmese officials told all refugees to return home, and that Burmese government troops would provide for the villagers’ safety. Since then, shooting has been off and on inside Karen State, and DKBA Battalion No. 907 has been joined by other DKBA battalions in northern Karen State as well as factions of the Karen National Union (KNU).