In Kyaukme Town, Shan State, the ongoing conflict between the junta and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has created severe hardships in retrieving the bodies of civilians who have died in the intense clashes, resulting in the rotting remains being left unburied.
Between July 20 and 22, the conflict between the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) coalition against the junta intensified in Kyaukme. During these clashes, there was an increase in civilian casualties caused by shelling, airstrikes, and small arms fire.
Residents have reported that some bodies remain in their homes and have not been removed for proper burial, leading to their decomposition.
"Some bodies that have been dead for several days are starting to rot. Some areas are inaccessible for various reasons, so the bodies cannot be removed. Today, there were two deaths in Nahmsitlin and two injuries in Lwepaung. Yesterday, there were eight deaths, and the day before, there were fifteen. The clashes result in deaths almost every day,” a social aid worker told Shan Herald.
Residents report that the number of civilian deaths has risen to nearly 100 during the month-long fighting in Kyaukme.
At 6:30 PM on July 20, four residents of Kyaukme were riding two motorcycles when junta soldiers stationed at an outpost opened fire without provocation, killing all four instantly. TNLA stated that the soldiers then irresponsibly discarded the bodies on the side of the road.
Between July 20 and 22, the joint forces of TNLA and the People's Defense Force (PDF) engaged in intense fighting with the 202nd and 203rd Battalions of the junta's 11th Division around the Nahmsitlin and Asia World toll gate.
After the fighting, 26 MA1 rifles, 16 MA3 carbines, 12 MA4 assault rifles, 12 MA11 rifles, 10 MA2 sniper rifles, one light machine gun, two 45mm mortars, one 120mm cannon, and 85 sets of military equipment were confiscated from the junta troop, while 54 enemy bodies were found, and around 40 soldiers were captured alive, TNLA announced.
On June 26, 17 junta troops from the Kyaukme-based Military Operations Command No. 1 (MOC-1) surrendered to the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) along with a huge cache of weapons and ammunition.
