Local people flee clashes in Nawnghkio Township
By Network Media Group
April 12, 2023
Local people report that clashes between the Mandalay People’s Defense Force (Mandalay PDF) and the Burma army has been on-going since 5 April in Nawnghkio Township in northern Shan State. Civilian houses have been damaged during the clashes and many local villagers have fled to take shelter in safer places.
Fighting has happened in numerous parts of Nawnghkio Township including near Thanbo, Hokhe, Kon Gyi, Hokho, Doe Pin, Lon Kham and Seik Hpu villages. The Mandalay PDF and Burma army also engaged in fire fights at multiple locations along the Pyin Oo Lwin – Nawnghkio – Mogok vehicle road.
Burma army soldiers have been entering and patrolling in numerous villages in the area.
“Junta soldiers come to cook their meals in villager’s house without asking permission when villagers are out working on their fields. The junta soldiers told villagers that they wouldn’t do anything to the villagers so the villagers should not be afraid. But we are living in fear of the Burma army soldiers who are patrolling in our village. The day before yesterday we heard the sound of guns shooting around Thayet Kon,” a female local told NMG.
She said that armed clashes broke out in the areas around Hokho, Doe Pin, Lon Kham and Seik Hpu villages on the Pyin Oo Lwin – Nawnghkio – Mogok road.
A local man from Kon Gyi village said that armed clashes broke out around Thanbo, Hokhe, and Kon Gyi villages.
“The regime soldiers are patrolling around civilian villages. Clashes broke out between the PDF and Burma army in different parts of Nawnghkio Township between 5 April and 9 April. In Kon Gyi village, eight or nine houses were damaged during the clashes. All villagers immediately flee from the village when fighting starts,” the local man, who lives in Kon Gyi village, told NMG.
The Kon Gyi village resident said that villagers from Hokhe, Hokho, Kyu Kaw, Nam Kawng, Kyu Inn and Kon Gyi villages have needed to flee due to the clashes in Nawnghkio Township. The local man said that these people remain displaced and are unable to return to their villages because the likelihood of more fighting in the area remains high.
Local people reported that two children were killed and three people were wounded during clashes between the Burma army and Mandalay PDF in Thanbo village on 5 April.
Recently there have been frequent clashes between the Mandalay PDF and the Burma army in Nawnghkio Township in northern Shan state. After these clashes, the Burma army has sent reinforcement troops into Sammasel Thonsel village in Nawnghkio Township and Nyaung Kon and Kyaukme Lay villages in Pyin Oo Lwin Township.
