According to People's Defense Force officials, the ongoing conflict between the local defense joint forces and the Military Council troops at the Pekon-Pinlaung border in southern Shan State has now exceeded three months. Currently Military Council troops are stationed in South Salong village.
A news and information official from the 2nd Battalion of the Mobye People's Defense Forces reported that Military Council troops have persistently launched attacks on the area since the final week of February.
The PDF official reported,”The fighting has been really intense in that area until now. They're still launching attacks with warplanes. The Military Council is actively operating in South Salong village, with two columns in action—one from South Salong and one from Loilong. So far, we've only seen these two columns."
Throughout the course of the battle, the military council conducted over 100 airstrikes.
Since February 24, there have been casualties on both sides during the ongoing battle.
According to statements from the joint defense forces, the number of casualties is as follows: at least 200 Military Council troops were killed, while between 15 and 20 members of the joint forces lost their lives, as reported by the news and information official.
"The 247th and 248th battalions, under the Military Council, are engaged in combat operations. Meanwhile, the 10th and 14th battalions of the 66th Division are leading the main operation through Loilem Lay. Additionally, the 10th, 12th, and 14th battalions of the 66th Division, along with the 7th and 8th columns, are carrying out combat operations on the Pinlaung side," Khu Ree Du, the Adjutant General of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF), answered in an interview asked by the Kantarawaddy Times on March 13.
In early May, Battalion 11 of the KNDF reported that over 300 homes in South Salong, North Salong, Taungmethin, and Longpyin villages, located in Longpyin village-tract, Pinglaung township, were struck and damaged by the airstrikes carried out by the Military Council.
Over the course of more than three months, the Military Council troops conducted more than 100 airstrikes, specifically targeting local village homes, hospitals, and religious buildings. In addition to the airstrikes, they also employed artillery shells as part of their operations.
The Military Council conducted airstrikes not only during combat but also in non-combat areas.The air-strikes were carried out using 500-pound bombs and 120 mm weapons. Additionally.,
According to a news and information official from the Mobye People's Defense Force 2nd Battalion, due to the prolonged duration of the fighting, there are pressing needs for the revolutionary forces.
"We, as soldiers are born from the people and rely on their support. Our fight is for the people themselves. We have fought almost every day for the past three months. We require substantial funding for military expenses, as well as additional supplies of medicine and food. It is not just us, but the 11th and 22nd battalions of the KNDF who are truly on the front lines. Other organizations and the medical corps are also facing significant challenges."
On April 25, the KNDF Pekon battalion documented through a drone that Military Council troops employed local villagers from Lechar village in Longpyin village-tract, Pinlaung township as human shields.
The joint forces also discovered the body of a villager who had been subjected to torture and subsequently died.
The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) Battalion 11, Battalion 22, Mobye People's Defense Battalion, Pekon People's Defense Battalion, Southern Shan Revolutionary Forces, and other revolutionary forces have joined together to engage in skirmishes with the Military Council along the Pekon-Pinlaung border
