The government army has reinforced its troops stationed in and around Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State after fighting eruptedbetween the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and government troops.
A New Mon State Party (NMSP) official, who has been observing the situation, states that “they [government troops] first deployed security in Moulmein capital. Then, after the breakout of fighting, the troops have been deployed in and around the villages where fighting took place. The government troops ordered villagers [who fled] for safety not to come back to the village for the moment.”
The MNSP official continued that government troops prohibited any travel in and around the villages concerned after 6:00 pm, while boats providing transportation across the Ahtaran River also stopped running.
Schools in nine villages were closed due to heavy fighting between government troops and DKBA near Shwe War Chaung Village, Kyaikmayaw Township, according to local residents.
“Because the government army has reinforced a lot of its troops in the area, we are worried that the fighting will take place in the villages. The schools have been closed; every house in the village is also closed, and everyone is hidden,” said a Kyar-khet-kon villager, who fled the village.
Fighting between government and DKBA troops broke out in Shwe war Chaung Village, Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State, in the morning of September 27th; fire was also exchanged on September 26th in Kayint-taw Village, Kalaing-kanaing Village Track.
“It was reported that fighting broke out with our group yesterday, but it’s not true; [there was] no fighting with our troop. But, we found two rockets fired into our base, yet we cannot say which side[s] fired the rockets,” said Major Naing Maung Zaw, of the Border Guard Force.
The Major continued that on the afternoon of September 29th, a bus traveling between Kyukdo and Tharmanya, Karen State, was shot with a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), leaving four passengers seriously wounded. The injured were taken to Kawkareik Hospital in Kawkareik Town.
In an interview with IMNA, National Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) leader Nai Hongsar stated that after signing a nationwide ceasefire agreement, a code of conduct will be drafted, which the army must adopt and practice.
Commenting on the recent outbreak of fighting, Nai Hongsar noted that since a ceasefire agreement had not yet been signed, such fighting can erupt, but respective armed groups must not initiate such fighting or armed conflict.
