Fierce clashes started somewhere in the town of Demoso in Karenni state on the early morning of December 3rd, and the Military Council conducted at least 20 aerial bombing attacks, according to reports from the battlefield.
The Demoso People’s Defense Forces (DMO-PDF) announced that clashes raged on because the Military Council deployed three columns and launched a massive offensive in Kyar Phoo Daw village in Demoso township.
A Demoso resident contacted and informed Kantarawaddy Times, “The battles were believed to have occurred around the Nan Me Khon, Thay Su Le and Kone Thar areas. We heard more artillery booms than small arms fire. We heard artillery fire since around 5:00 am early today. After 1:00 pm more artillery bombardments were heard again. Around 3:00 pm in the afternoon a fighter jet arrived, and began firing inside the combat zones and carried out eight bombing strikes . At 4:00 pm another warplane came and bombed again. This was followed at 9:19pm by more bomb attacks. The explosions became much louder. They bombed 4 times just in 20 minutes”.
The Military Council continued to carry out airstrikes during the night without any more fighting, and the explosions could be heard not only in Demoso but also in the nearby Loikaw township, Loikaw residents said.
Kantarawaddy Times has not been able to independently confirm the casualty figures for both sides during the fighting.
On November 28th, there was a fierce battle between the Military Council and the Karenni Local Defense Joint Forces along the Thay Su Le-Nan Me Khon area in Demoso township. On the second day of the battle, the Military Council retreated, but on December 3rd, the Junta army launched another offensive using massive forces as well as air support, according to the statement issued by the joint forces.
Two comrades of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) have fallen since the fighting began. As military activities are still in full swing in the Nan Me Khon area, various local defense forces have urged civilians to avoid travel.
