TANINTHARYI DIVISION – Locals reported that revolutionary forces battled against a junta column of over 100 soldiers at Thaechaunggyi Village in Taungpyauk Prefecture on Monday (January 29) morning.
The junta column had invaded Taungpyauk Prefecture in Thayetchaung Township, Dawei District back on the 26th. The battle broke out at the western bank of Winkaphaw Village on Monday after the junta column launched offensives towards Winkaphaw Village from Thaechaunggyi Village around 7 a.m.
“Just as I was told that (the junta forces) arrived at the western bank of Winkaphaw (Village), gunshots rang out. There were also mine blasts, heavy artillery fire,” said a resident of Taungpyauk Prefecture.
Residents said that gunshots and explosions went on for around an hour then quieted down.
The residents added that as battles would immediately follow the junta offensives, thousands of residents from Maekae, Winkaphaw, Alalsu, Kyaukai, Kywelchan and nearby villages in Taungpyauk Prefecture have fled to safety.
“We just fled from one village to the next along the way. People are fleeing in huge crowds,” said a resident who have been fleeing for safety.
Meanwhile, junta forces were reported to have arrived at the middle part of Winkaphaw Village on Monday afternoon.
A 150 junta column similarly invaded Ashaytaw Area in Dawei Township on the 27th of this month. That column had shot dead a civilian man near Pakhet Village on January 28 afternoon then spent the night at Yammazu Village.
Then on January 29 morning, that column continued on its offensive into the east of Dawei City and invaded Thingantone Village, according to the locals.
Due to the junta column in Ashaytaw Area, locals from Watthay, Pakhet, Yammazu, Thayetngote, Leikkyelpyaung, Thingantone and Wakone Villages have been fleeing to relative safety.
Both junta columns in Taungpyauk Prefecture and Ashaytaw Area are heading towards Kyaukhtu base in Banchaung that was captured by revolutionary forces recently on January 24.