BAGO DIVISION – On September 19, the Karen National Union (KNU) central announced that 23 local houses in Ngahtwe Sote Village in Mone Township, Bago Division were burned down by junta forces that also planted land mines in and around the village.
On September 17, after the military council troops retreated from Ngathwe Sote Village, the joint KNLA forces cleared the area and found that houses had been set on fire and land mines were planted.
“Homes were badly damaged by fire. We are also clearing the landmines planted by junta forces,” said a member of the local defence force.
He said that 12 M-14 landmines were removed as a result of mine sweeping operations so that the people could return to live in the village.
It is reported that the junta council burned 23 houses, 1 stable and 3 barns. These were destroyed by fire and a cow was also killed by a landmine planted by the junta council. When the military council column came in, it is said that more than 1,500 residents of Ngahtwe Sote, Yayle Kayin and Yayle Burma Villages had to flee.
On the 16th and 17th of September, the military council troops fired heavy weapons at Mone Township, and it was reported that 34-year-old Saw Chitnabu and 46-year-old Naw Phaw Loal from Ushiskon Village were injured.