Ten Thousands of local residents are fleeing their homes and communities due to military council troops entering Tanintharyi Township, in Myeik District.
According to local residents, military council troops left Myeik Township using waterways and reached Waryi and Joe Taung villages near Lae Thit village.
According to local sources, since the declaration of martial law, people are fleeing as they anticipate armed conflicts are likely.
Residents of Lae Thit East Bank, Lae Thit West Bank and Maw Tone West Bank villages in Tanintharyi Township fled on February 12, fearing that the military council’s army would begin to fight with PDF forces in the area.
“If there is a battle, the army destroys everything in sight. They also arrest villagers. Houses were burned before, so I’m afraid. Now the military forces have entered the village and set up camp. People have run away …. they don’t feel safe to stay,” said a villager from Lae Thit village.
On January 16, a battle broke out in Shart Pone village on the other side of Pulaw town between the Military Council Army and the People’s Defense Forces.
After the battle, the villagers took shelter in the nearby forest. The military council used heavy weapons, which burned down at least one house, and they arrested a number of villagers. Most people remain in the jungle, and are in need food and medical aid
Pulaw and Tanintharyi townships were recently put under martial law and a night curfew was also put in place.
Since early 2022, more than 8,000 people have been displaced in Tanintharyi Division. The number of internally displaced people increased to more than ten thousand in February alone.
