On November 12, artillery shells fired by junta forces exploded in farmlands belonging to local residents in Nam San Khan village, Nanmekhon Township, causing damage to residential houses and the monastery entrance.

A local woman who was selling goods near the area where the shells landed said she narrowly escaped injury.

“It was around school dismissal time, about 3 or 4 p.m. I was standing right here when the artillery fell. I thought I was going to die, so I just ran,” she said.

According to her, several artillery shells damaged the monastery entrance and nearby civilian homes, and there were no casualties.

She added that although people are worried and fearful after the shelling, they have no choice but to continue selling at the market to make a living, and are now living in a state of constant caution.

“We’re scared, but we still need to sell. We don’t have enough food. I even went to the [IDP] camp for a while, but came back again. I’m afraid, but if I don’t sell, there’s nothing to eat,” she further explained.

Throughout this week, junta troops have been firing artillery daily into Demoso and Moebye areas. On November 11, shells also landed near Okay village in the western part of Demoso Township, damaging several civilian homes, according to local residents.

Photo credit - CJ