KACHIN STATE – Locals reported that the fascist junta forces recklessly launched artillery attacks to Hpat Mar Village in Puta-O Township, without a fight.
On May 15, at around 5:00 p.m., a junta column with around 50 terrorist junta forces leaving from their base in Mu Lar Shee Dee Village, had stationed and set their artilleries near Long Sha Yang Village and launched at least 10 rounds of artillery fire to Hpat Mar Village, according to a local man of Hpat Mar Village.
“They did not fire from Long Sha Yang Village. They were setting their artillery in the jungle, at the entrance of Long Sha Yang Village and fired it towards our Hpat Mar village. It didn’t land in the village, but five artillery shells landed and exploded at the entrance of the village. I don’t know where the others fell,” he said.
Residents of Long Sha Yang and Hpat Mar villages were scared by junta’s reckless artillery attacks, according to a local woman of Long Sha Yang Village.
“The villagers were confused whether they had to run away or not, and some prepared emergency packages. The children were playing a soccer game organized by the church in Puta-O Town, and they all ran to their homes thinking it was a fight before the game was even over,” she said.
That junta column reportedly left from the jungle about 40 minutes after the artillery firing and went back to Mu Lar Shee Dee Village, but there were military activities around Long Sha Yang Village until on the morning of May 16.
Hpat Mar Village is located between Long Sha Yang Village and Sumprabum Town, and five miles away from Long Sha Yang Village. There was a fight between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the terrorist junta forces in March.