Khithar Non – Burma army soldiers torched some 20 homes after intruding on New Mon State Party’s (NMSP) territory on July 22. This attack was the latest in a series of aggressive military operations by government soldiers in the last 2 weeks. These operations have resulted in 3 people being arrested and several NMSP soldiers killed while defending their posts.
“After the column burnt down the houses and huts, they separated into 2 groups. I was being detained by the first group and forced to follow from the rear.”
Nai Win Taung who knows the lay of the land managed to escape after the column descended a hill. Shots were fired but he made it to the Thai border unscathed.
However a NMSP soldier and his wife are still prisoners of one of the government columns. The couple was arrested on July 12 when they went to the new Thuminkalan village (different village than previously mentioned). The NMSP soldier had just received leave from the Mergui District office.
It’s suspected that both the government’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 597 and 581, and Infantry Battalion (IB) 224 and 288 were involved in the latest attacks. The NMSP lodged complaints with each of the government’s battalions, but still waiting for a reply.
Meanwhile many villagers that live where the government columns are still active have fled their homes and plantations. The government units are in the new Thuminkhalan village and other surrounding villages within NMSP’s controlled territories. So far it’s unknown just how many civilians been displaced. They are taking shelter where they can find it, mostly in monasteries and nearby villages.
