An official from Moe Bye PDF confirmed some of the civilians trapped in Sat Taw Yar and Mway Taw monasteries were freed now. Earlier around 100 people were trapped after the Military Council troops besieged the religious buildings.
“Continuous shelling forced people to flee from the village and seek for shelters. They took refuge in the monasteries thinking they would be safe there. However, the Military Council troops besieged the monasteries while civilians were still trapped there. They were forced to stay in the monasteries on the second and third days. On the third day, our joint forces opened fire around the area so some trapped people were able to run to safety. But the rest were still trapped in the monasteries”, he said.
The Junta soldiers didn’t torture the locals but refused to let them go. The Military Council troops are currently stationed in Pwe Kone 1, 2, 3 Wards, Sat Taw Yar and Mway Taw monasteries.
Fighting between the Military and Karenni local defences took place everyday and around 100 houses in the area were destroyed by shelling. 5 Moe Bye residents, including two siblings were killed by artillery fire this month.
At least 5000 Moe Bye residents were forced to flee during the intense fighting, Sayar Banyar, director of Karenni Human Right Group had said.
“We were only able to track 5000 people who headed to the middle west Kayan areas. Some went to Loikaw and some perhaps, to Pekon. These are the three obvious destinations. We can say at least 5000 people arrive here. We can’t estimate the number of people who head to Loikaw and other ares”, he added.
No armed clash has broken out Today morning (September 22) yet but the situation is still tense, an official from Loikaw PDF said.
Currently Moe Bye is the only communication route in Karenni State hence the Military Council produced a great effort to firmly garrison in there.
“There is only one route left. That route will be blocked too if the Military continues to deploy. And then Moe Bye will be ruined anyway. I think a total population of 300000 in Kayah State will be in peril when Moe Bye is destroyed. Because that one is the final route remaining open”, a Loikaw PDF official said.
Fighting broke out between the Military Council and Karenni Local Defence Joint Forces after the Junta troops launched an offensive divided in two columns on September 19.
Military Regime troops had already launched two attacks on Moe Bye in September. On September 8, they advanced for the first time but retreated after 5 days. Then they re-entered for the second time on September 19.
As the clashes around Moe Bye may continue to intensify, local PDFs had warned travellers to avoid the Moe Bye Road and alerted the local public to stay in safe zones.
