According to local news sources, the on-going, armed conflict between junta and the joint revolutionary forces has resulted in the death of at least 7 civilians.
The fighting between the two sides started on the morning of November 10th when the Revolutionary Joint Column using drones, attacked the junta police station and the bridge gate station near Chaunghnitkhwa village, Kyaikmarraw township.
“Until now, November 23, the situation is still tense. They are still shooting their weapons. During this battle, about 7 village residents have been killed by gunshots. I cannot say how many villagers were injured. There may be many injured people,” said a local man helping refugees.
On November 12, two children aged 7 and 8 from Pawlawkhome village were killed by a mortar shell explosion. Then, on November 20th and 21st, two local men were killed when the military junta opened fire in Taungkalay village.
In addition, 3 bodies of civilians were found on the roadside between Metro and Hlakazine village, according to local news sources.
Details about who these victims are have not yet been confirmed.
According to local residents, the fighting has been ongoing for more than 10 days. Constant air strikes and mortar shell explosions have damaged many homes.
The joint revolutionary forces are based in villages around the Chaunghnitkhwa bridge and the military junta columns have positioned themselves with reinforcements in Taungkalay village. Residents fear that the fighting will continue to intensify.
