According to a report by a Kantarawaddy Times' on-the-ground journalist on April 20, troops from the Military Council burned and destroyed a significant number of properties in the residences located in the eastern part of Demoso Township in the Karenni State.
The intensity of the fighting in the region has caused local residents to flee for safety. However, reports indicate that Military Council troops stationed themselves in the village and burned the property of the local people who had to flee for safety.
Currently, troops from the Military Council who launched a combat operation in the Dawtamagyi village-tract on the eastern side of Demoso Township since March 9 have retreated and destroyed most of the property of the residents of Dawngaykhu and Dawtamagyi villages where they temporarily occupied.
"On April 20, when we arrived at Dawngaykhu village, we discovered that the Military Council had burned down the cars, motorcycles, and machinery belonging to the locals. We also observed that the houses had been destroyed due to bombs dropped by planes during the fighting. Furthermore, we found that unexploded bombs remained in the village," reported Kantarawaddy Times' on-the-ground journalist who
investigated the situation in Dawngaykhu village.
According to Khu Ree Du, the Tactical Commander of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF)'s Strategy-6, the column from the Military Council that burned the properties of the locals included the 516 Light Infantry Battalion, 515 Light Infantry Battalion, and 12 Infantry Battalion, as he informed the Kantarawaddy Times.
"That's the current situation. When the remaining 80 soldiers from 516 Light Infantry Battalion, 515 Light Infantry Battalion, and 12
Infantry Battalion arrived in Dawngaykhu, they took away all the belongings of the locals and burned all the
motorcycles," said Tactical Commander Khu Ree Du.
In a press release summarizing the military activity of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) for the month of March, it was reported that Military Council troops had burnt down 228 civilian homes and damaged two Buddhist monasteries and three schools through arson, artillery shelling, and airstrikes in Karenni state.
The Military Council troops, who have been on the offensive since March 9, have been engaging in intense fighting with the joint forces of KNDF, KA, and PDF. As a result, more than 30,000 local residents, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had fled to the eastern side of Demoso Township, are now being forced to flee once again.
