BAGO DIVISION – More than 40 members of the ward administration, including village administrators and hundred households chiefs, have fled from the villages along the Sittaung River in Waw Township, according to the residents.
Including the villages of Myitkyo, Letpan, Gwegyi and Winepat, the villages along Sittaung River are being asked to provide 30 people each for the junta-backed Pyu Saw Htee militia after the attack of Thayethamei junta police station and light infantry battalion 598 on the morning of November 27.
It is said that many village administrators and hundred households chiefs under the junta council have been fleeing since the evening of November 27 after the junta council came to conscript members for the Pyu Saw Htee militia in the villages.
“The junta asked for forces after the clash. The village chiefs disappeared not because they didn’t want to give up the villagers but because they were worried that they would also be forced to join the militia. From what I’ve heard, the administrators and hundred households chiefs of four villages fled,” said a local resident of Waw.
Among those who are fleeing are Than Win, the administrator of the Winepat Village, Hla Min, the administrator of Myitkyo Village, Letpan Village administrator Win Naing, Gwegyi Village administrator Maung Htwe and hundred households chiefs from various other villages.
Currently, a total of 200 junta troops are stationed in the area: more than 50 junta council troops at Sin Village Basic High School; more than 100 junta troops at Anyarsu monastery; and over 50 junta forces at Thayethamei Village. They have reportedly set up heavy weapons and are checking the in and out lists of the villages.
KNLA joint forces stormed the Thayethamei Police Station around 5:00 a.m. on November 27. Nine junta police, including the station chief, were killed and four weapons were seized from the battle.