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TANINTHAYI DIVISION – Locals stated that the junta forces burnt down nearly 30 civilian houses from four villages: 17 houses from Let Ku Village, 5 houses from Pyin Hpyu Village, 2 houses from Ma Daung Village and 5 houses from Pi Tat Village in Palaw Township, Taninthayi Division within one week.
Among the houses burned down by the junta council, the house of a non-CDMer (staff who did not participate in Civil Disobedience Movement) from Let Ku Village was also said to be included and most of the burnt houses were reportedly wooden houses.
“Some houses were torched for no reason. Some owners of the burnt houses were known to have had communication with revolutionary forces,” one People’s Defence Force comrade said.
The stated arsons were committed by the junta council’s military column when they marched into the villages on September 15, 17 and 18.
On September 18, the junta troops in Let Ku Village Tract were said to have entered Ma Dung and Pi Tat Villages, commited arson on the civilian houses and retreated back to Pala Town through To Village Tract.
Locals stated that the junta troops have continuously set up hidden sentries in Pala Town on September 20 and seemed to be preparing to launch military operations toward Za Yat Seik Village.
“They (junta troops) have hidden sentries around the Pala general administration office and along Za Yat Seik and Kye Villages as well. They have seriously prepared. We might also run away soon,” a local man from Pala Town said.
Furthermore, there are five junta warships in the seacoast and the warships and junta military battalions are said to commit indiscriminate firing with heavy artillery every day.