Following the Military coup, the number of refugees has risen to 77,154 since the clashes across the country, according to a report released by the Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP-Myanmar).
Since the military coup on February 1, 62 civilians have been killed and above 80 injured in more than three months of resumed fighting in ethnic areas according to ISP-Myanmar.
“After the military coup on February 1, 2021, various anti-injustice movements have sprung up in a variety of ways across Myanmar. Until now, it exists in multi-dimensions and appearance. At the same time, the fighting between Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and the Military Junta Council continues in ethnic areas where EAOs are based and there are now clashes between the People's Defense Forces (PDF) and the military council in some areas, ”said ISP-Myanmar.
While the coup by the Military, there have been 407 clashes and 47 artillery shelling including 27 airstrikes in the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 5 territory, according to the report.
The report states: “Among the growing numbers of refugees, more than 32,000 refugees are due to fighting in Karen State. According to the artillery shelling by the Military Junta Council troop this week, more than 2,000 civilians from more than 30 villages near the Hpapun-Kama Mung Highway in Dwe Lo Township and Butho Township were forced to flee on April 14”.
Additionally, more than 5,000 refugees are forced to flee their homes due to the clashes between the Military Junta Council troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Momauk and Hpakant Townships in Kachin State.
The report also analyzed that the anti-injustice protests with various tactics have emerged throughout Myanmar following the coup by the Military. The People's Defense Forces (PDF) have formed in some areas and clashes with Military Council troops.
“From April 24 to early May, there were clashes between local PDFs and the Military Junta Council troops in Mindat and Hakha Townships in Chin State and Kani Township, Sagaing Division. During these incidents, the Military Council declared martial law in Mindat Township and the violent attack with the Helicopter gunships force the two-thirds of the population (more than 7,000) to force to flee into the forests and mountainside”, ISP-Myanmar said.
According to the clashes between the local PDF in Mindat and Hakha Townships in Chin State and the Military Junta Council troops, more than 7,000 civilians in Mindat Township and more than 20,000 residents in Kanni Township are still fleeing to safer places.
In addition, by conducting the numbers of killed and injured civilians, causes of deaths and injuries, and numbers of fleeing refugees during the clashes between the Military Junta Council and EAOs and clashes among the EAOs, research on ‘whether the armed forces are committing human rights abuses or not’ can be studied with the view of Transitional Justice and these should be taken into consideration.
