TANINTHARYI DIVISION- The military columns advancing towards the two villages near Longlon town have been torching the civilians’ housing, reported the locals.The fire started at around 4 p.m. Junta troops burned about three places in the villages of Sitpye and Laythoonkhan, said a local.
“The smoke went up from three separate places almost at the same time. Smoke is coming out here and there,” said a local man.Residents said that the smoke hadn’t stopped until 6:00 p.m. The number of houses being burned is unknown. Most of the residents of the nearby villages( including Sitpye and Laythoonkhan villages) have fled the war.
The military columns were mined near the Kahtaungni, Sitpye, and Pyin Htain villages by the People’s Defense Forces, according to PDF comrades.According to residents, the military council soldiers have been firing heavy weapons almost all day.
Since yesterday morning (December 27), the military council soldiers have used land and water routes and raided the villages in the eastern part of Longlon, such as Wedi, Kanyonekyun, and Sitpye villages. Today, military council soldiers arrived at Lay Thuonwen village and the villages below.
Longlon PDF alerted the locals to keep valuables safe and take special care of security as the military council soldiers were burning down or breaking into and searching the civilians’ homes.