Clashes between the guerrillas and the military council continue to intensify

(VOA) – In Karen State, fighting continues between the military council forces and the Karen National Liberation Army KNLA/PDF joint forces, and the joint forces have dominated many of the military council’s camps. This was reported by VOA reporter Ma Ayeema.

(Photo: CJ – VOA Burmese: Clashes between the KNLA/PDF militia and the military council continue to intensify.)

In Kok Krait City, Karen State, fighting has been intense until February 5th, and the military council has assembled troops in a defensive manner and is firing heavy weapons from the 97th Army. A leader of the joint forces told that the fighting is going on because the joint forces are also attacking the area.

“Until February 5th, the typhoon was intense in Kok Krait. Today, the SKST, their troops such as the mountain school and the New Year’s field, gathered their forces and regrouped at Khlar 97 and put up a defense. They fired heavy weapons from Khlar 97. They fired heavy weapons at high frequency. They fired heavy weapons into the village and city neighborhoods. They also fired heavy weapons at a place called Naepu Hlaing Gone, Kok. In Krait, more than 300 houses were destroyed by fire in one month “

He also said that the Kokraket residents are fleeing, and because of the daily heavy weapons attack, the communities do not dare to stay in their houses. Myawati Township, The Karen National Liberation Army-KNLA and joint forces are in control of the road section of the village of Thing Ninaung, and the 6th Brigade can also control many military camps and places within the control area.

“We are also in control of the side of the bridge over the river in Khyin Pyin. We have secured the police station and made it a controlled area. In the eastern part of Dona, we have also secured Lakhat Hill. They are shooting from a distance with heavy weapons and using airplanes. However, they have not been able to take it back effectively yet.”

Karen State On January 29th, a Military Council military helicopter was shot down near Myawati City in Thing Ninaung Infantry Battalion: Khmera (355), and after the joint force announced that about 5 people, including Brigadier General Aye Minnaung, the commander of the 44th Brigade, were killed in the vehicle, the Military Council has been carrying out airstrikes and heavy weaponry toward that area. Because of this, the robes fell into the neighborhoods and some children were killed and injured. I tried to contact the Military Council regarding the situation in that area, but I was unable to contact them.

Now, because the joint forces have controlled the section of the new road in the village of Thang Ninaung, New Hill, Asia Road, the trucks and passenger cars are bypassing the side of the Wey Shan village. Due to the conflict between the two sides, the flow of goods is blocked and the traffic is difficult and delayed.