Clashes have broken out between resistance groups and the junta’s military in Shwegu Township, Kachin State as they fight for control of the strategic area located near the border with Sagaing Region, according to residents.
Residents believe the People’s Defense Force (PDF) under the National Unity Government (NUG) and local defense forces are attempting to take control of Shwegu because it is located at the southernmost edge of Kachin State and could give geographical advantages to the resistance groups in Sagaing.
“This area could provide a direct route connecting the PDFs in Sagaing to the Kachin Independence Army [KIA] or other ethnic revolutionary organizations, helping their attempts to get arms, or to develop joint operations,” said a resident.
He said the KIA is strongly supporting the resistance groups in the Shwegu Township area, adding that control of the location could allow them to cut the junta military’s transportation routes.
Shwegu is located on the Ayerwaddy River bank. Due to the curving path of the river, boats passing near the township have to move very slowly. This makes boats carrying military supplies and troops very vulnerable in this spot.
In the last week, at least three clashes have broken out between the junta’s military and Myo Hla PDF, a resistance group that is active in the area, and at least nine junta troops have been killed.
Troops from battalions under the military’s Light Infantry Division 88 were stationed at Thinbaw Inn village on Sept. 20 to guard six vessels carrying food supplies to the junta’s military units in Kachin State.
Kachin PDF (K-PDF) and Myo HLA PDF ambushed the vessels along the river on that day and also on Sept. 21. Clashes broke out both on the river and on land in the following days as well.
In response to the attacks by the PDF, the junta’s military deployed more troops in Shweku Township on Sept. 22. The military columns have been advancing and raiding villages in the western part of Shweku, and junta troops have torched houses in some villages.
Clashes broke out on Sept. 22 and 25 near Yay Hle and Sin Tat villages, forcing residents to flee.
“We don’t dare go back to the village, as clashes could break out at any time and they [junta troops] could also still be in and around the village. We are just worried that more clashes will break out,” said a 45-year-old farmer who is now taking shelter in a village with her husband.
Residents said the junta’s military also burned down dozens of houses in Yay Hle and Sin Tat villages.
As the junta’s military columns are moving around, hundreds of residents from these villages have fled into the town and to safer villages. Junta troops arrested 20 residents from Yay Hle Village and 10 residents of Moe Sitt Village over several days starting from Sept. 18.
“We haven’t heard anything about those detainees, and the villages are empty now. Some believe they might already have been killed somewhere in the jungle,” said a Yay Hle resident who is now taking shelter with her family in Shweku Town.
As they are losing their clashes with the PDFs, the junta’s military has been committing atrocities and violence against civilians not only in Shweku, but also in other connecting townships located along the border between Kachin and Sagaing.
In Mogaung Township, the military arrested about 200 residents, accusing them of participating in or supporting resistance activities. Of these, only 30 were released. At least four were killed in detention at military interrogation centers, according to the residents.
On Wednesday, the junta military’s Light Infantry Battalion 102 fired three shells into Joe Htaung Village, Wuntho Township, Sagaing Region at around 12:30 p.m. The shells exploded in a monastery compound in the village where children were attending the monastic school.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense under the NUG released Thursday, 18 children were injured, of whom six are in critical condition.
