The Burma Army fired long-range mortar shells at a high school in Kesi Township serving as a safe house for internally displaced civilians (IDPs) for five hours on 10 November said a local source.
The school, in the village of Wan Saw, had been housing 1,500 IDPs since fighting in central Shan State escalated in October. They said the attack was ongoing, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., and was launched by groups 2 and 17 from the Burma Army’s Military Operation Command—known as the Za-Ka-Ka.
“They said the soldiers shot 60 mm shells at them about 60 times,” said Sai Rin, a 54-year-old who works in a Mong Hsu monastery now host to newly displaced IDPs from Wan Saw.
People hid in nearby bunkers until the firing stopped, and then fled the area. As well as the 1,500 refugees 500 villagers from Wan Saw also fled, leaving the area nearly empty of people.
Refugees in Laikha01A man internally displaced by fighting in central Shan State arrives in Laika. (Photo: Facebook)
The New Light of Myanmar, the government mouthpiece, reported on 11 November in its English language newspaper that the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/SSA-N), who are based in the region, had attacked them from “residential quarters” near their compound on 9 November and that the Burma Army has responded by “combing the area for enemy combatants.”
Sai Hla, spokesperson for the SSPP/SSA-N, told SHAN yesterday that they are now fighting to defend themselves.
He said: “We have no reason to fight Za-Ka-Ka No. 2. They are 20 miles from Wan Hai.
“We want to solve the problem with peace talks."
The displaced IDPs from Wan Saw took one of two routes to safety. Either they went to the SSPP/SSA-N headquarters in Wan Hai, five miles to the west in the direction of Kesi, or they went to the neighboring township of Mong Hsu, twelve miles to the east.
Those who went to Wan Hai had to flee for a third time when the Burma Army launched an attack on that area, as SHAN reported on 11 November.
IDPs InfographicInfographic showing the location of central Shan State’s IDP crisis (S.H.A.N)
Around 400 people sought refuge in the village of Wan Wa, about three miles south of the SSPP/SSA-N base. Some continued on to Kesi Town, or to another central Shan State township, Laikha.
The hundreds of refugees who fled to Mong Hsu have taken shelter in monasteries in the town and on the way to the town.
The 10 November attacks came two days after Burma held general elections for the first time in 25 years. Voting did not take place in Kesi and Mong Hsu townships, because polling was cancelled due to the ongoing conflict.
By SIMMA FRANCIS / Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)
Reporting by SAI YIPHONG / Shan Herald Agency for News (S.H.A.N)
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
