KARENNI STATE – An official from Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) said that the junta council could use the 200 civilians they abducted in Pekhon Township, southern Shan State as guides and human shields.
Junta forces conducting offensives in Pinlaung and Pekhon Townships abducted civilians returning from their field work in Puchel Village, Pekhon Township on November 11.
Although it is not clear why those civilians were abducted, the KNDF official said that they could be used as guides and human shields when the junta forces conduct offensives, and stated that it is a war crime to forcibly abduct civilians.
It is said that the junta forces have detained the abducted civilians inside the gymnasium in Pinlaung and their details are still being investigated.
KNDF said that those junta forces had raided, burned and looted the villages of Nantphamu, Pinsone, Lwaikyai, Konepaw, Banmauk as well as the houses in the wards of Pekhon Town.
In addition, the junta council also carried out at least 100 airstrikes in the area they were conducting offensives, also targeting residential zones unrelated to the battles.
Six civilians were killed and five were injured in Pekhon Township by junta air and drone attacks during November.
In addition, the destrucitve offensive by junta forces and Pa’O National Organisation (PNO) in Pinlaung and Pekhon Townships has lasted for around three months according to military data.
Karenni social groups announced that at least 20,000 civilians are displaced by the junta raids in the Pinlaung-Pekhon region.
