The Karen Nationwide Liberation Military (KNLA) clashed with junta forces 259 occasions final month in Myanmar’s Kayin and Mon states, in keeping with a press release launched Tuesday by the Karen Nationwide Union (KNU). The combating led to the deaths of 12 KNLA troops and 19 civilians. The KNU mentioned 386 junta troops and Border Guard Drive (BGF) members have been killed and 280 injured.
RFA couldn’t independently affirm the variety of battles or casualties and calls to the Army Council’s Spokesman by RFA went unanswered.
Preventing intensified final month as KNLA troops joined forces with the Karen Nationwide Protection Group (KNDO) to assault junta troops and BGF members in KNU-controlled areas in Kayin and Mon states.
KNDO Particular Commando Officer, Capt. Sa Lone informed RFA the Army Council continues to be finishing up floor operations and air raids.
“Now the combating will intensify,” he mentioned. “The Army Council doesn’t dare to maneuver ahead. They are going to face casualties in the event that they transfer ahead. The junta offensive continues to be there. The Army Council makes use of not solely manpower, but in addition heavy artillery and plane. They don’t surrender and we’ve to face on the facet of the individuals and proceed.”
The KNU mentioned together with the 19 lifeless locals, 26 individuals have been injured and 44 houses and non secular buildings have been broken because of heavy artillery shelling and landmines. Some 49 individuals from Thaton district in Mon state, managed by KNU Brigade 1, have been arrested for offering data and assist to the KNU.
The assertion additionally claimed greater than 150,000 locals fled in quest of security because of junta assaults within the 18 months because the Feb. 2021 coup.
Army Council Spokesman Gen. Noticed Min Ton has denied KNU statements prior to now, saying the army doesn’t goal civilians.
An Aug. 3 assertion by the U.N. Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs mentioned 346,000 individuals fled their houses because of inside conflicts in Myanmar earlier than Feb. 1 final yr. It mentioned 866,000 turned internally displaced individuals because the coup as of July 25 this yr.