The military junta troops have been continuously setting fire to houses in Anankwin village, located along the Thanbyuzayat-Three Pagodas Pass road at the Mon-Karen State border, according to reports.
Between January 29 and February 5, military junta troops torched about 50 houses in Anankwin village, as confirmed by the Red Dragon Column, which released photos of the destruction on February 7.
When the Independent Mon News Agency attempted to contact the Red Dragon Column for further details on the arson and the current battle situation, they responded that they could not provide information at the moment.
Anankwin village, home to more than 500 households, is inhabited by Karen, Bamar, and some Muslim residents. Due to the ongoing conflict, over 1,000 people, including villagers and displaced civilians from nearby areas, have fled to safer locations.
“We left our village nearly two years ago. The village has no phone signal, so we haven’t been able to contact the people there for a long time. Seeing our village being burned down is heartbreaking, but there’s nothing we can do. Many villagers have fled to Thailand. I’m in Thailand now as well,” said a resident of Anankwin village who has taken refuge there.
According to Nai Aue Mon, the program director of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), the military junta frequently burns down villages when facing resistance.
“It’s their habit to burn down villages when civilians are not around. Their cruelty is well known. Displaced people still can’t return to their homes and have no work to do. Humanitarian groups can only help when they receive donations, so food supplies are insufficient in some areas. We’ve been collecting and distributing clothing for displaced people, but our support is still limited. We can’t even reach all affected villages,” he said.
Since June 2024, resistance forces have been attempting to seize the Anankwin strategic military base, but the military junta has defended it with heavy artillery and airstrikes, preventing its capture.
Joint resistance forces, including the Special Operations Force (SOF), the Red Dragon Column, and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), continue to lay siege to the Anankwin strategic base.
