Around 800 people fled to safety from Military Council troops in Mone township, Kawthoolei administrative area, fearing that they would become guinea-pigs to be used ‘human shields”, according to KNU Central office.
The KNU statement released they claimed Military Council troops carried out a combat operation in Tamarkhaw Village and Taung Su (West) Village, located in Mone Township, Nyaunglebin District, a territory of KNU Brigade 3. As a result, two civilians were reportedly arrested and used as human shields in the village.
KNU spokesperson Padoh Saw Kler Say said, "In the areas of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Brigade, 6th Brigade, and 5th Brigade, the intensity of conflict has escalated, leading to a rise in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs)."
According to the KNU, following the abduction of two Karen , one Tamarkhaw Village and a man in his 70s from Taung Su (West) Village who were used as human shields, and then released by the military on May 17.
Due to the combat operation carried out by the Military Council troops in Tamarkhaw Village and Taung Su (West) Villages, the local people are scared and running away to find safety. As of now, approximately 790 individuals from these two villages have fled, according to the KNU.
On May 10, in Mone Township, Nyaunglebin District of KNU, a confrontation occurred between the Military Council troops and the joint forces of KNLA. Following the battle, the injured Military Council troops brutally killed 20 local individuals, including 4 children and 11 women. They also arrested 7 individuals to be used as human shields.
Padoh Saw Kler Say, the spokesperson for KNU, stated that human rights abuses by the Military Council in the Kawthoolei administrative area have been getting worse. These violations are particularly prominent in the areas of KNU 1st, 3rd, 5th and 6th Brigades, according to the spokesperson's statement to the Than Lwin Times.
"After the 2021 coup, the Kawthoolei administrative area has witnessed a disturbing surge in human rights violations perpetrated by the Military Council. The situation in Mone Township represents a clear instance of a war crime. Such occurrences are not currently taking place within our area. Similar incidents have taken place in the past."
According to the KNU, during the period of May 13-14th, continuous clashes between the Military Council troops and the joint forces of KNLA Brigade 3 in Mone township led to over 8,000 local people being displaced. As a result, the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently facing numerous challenges and hardships.
As the military council troops continue to attack villages in Mone township of KNU, the number of local people fleeing has increased to almost 16,000. In response, the Karen Emergency Relief Committee (Mone Township) has urged for humanitarian aid and social security to be provided to help these individuals.
