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TANINTHARYI DIVISION – The recent battles in Kawthoung Township have caused nearly a hundred civilians to flee into Thailand, according to residents and revolutionary forces.
People’s Defence Forces (PDF) and junta council troops engaged in a shootout in Maliwan Village, Kawthoung at around 11 a.m. on September 20.
Almost immediately afterwards, junta forces launched an offensive along the Parchan River from Maliwan Creek via both land and water routes up till well past 3 p.m.
Due to the junta council’s military movements and the exchange of fire, several residents of Chaungwa Village in Khamaukgyi, located around seven miles from Maliwan Village, fled into Thailand in preparation for junta invasions.
Over 30 residents are said to have crossed over to Thailand while there were also villagers stuck on the road as the junta forces were coming both on the land and in the rivers.
“Adding those arrived later, there should be around 100 people. Because it was an emergency evacuation, the people on this side have also been helping them. Most of the evacuees are children,” said a person assisting displaced people.
After two junta informers from Khamaukgyi Village were arrested and killed during the third week of August, junta terrorists raided the villages of Khamauknge, Chaungwa and Maliwan, leading to conflicts with Kawthoung Township PDF.
At that time, over a hundred villagers from Chaungwa Village had to flee into Thailand.
In addition, in the first week of this month, the junta council had set up artillery bases at two villages in Khamaukgyi, Kawthoung at and a large number of junta troops conducted clearance in the areas of Maryan and Parkalat as well as Ayetharyar, Ayemyatharyar and Wineding Villages.
Over 30 civilians in those areas were abducted by junta forces and used as human shields at that time, causing the people to evacuate.