Last night at 10.00 p.m of January 23, after the SAC’s general administrative, immigration and population and forestry department offices were torched down by fire by armed resistance groups, the entire border town, Three Pagoda Pass town in Kya-inn-seikyi Township, Karen State become silence in this morning.
The town residents confirmed that the armed resistance groups’ combined military force torched only the military regime’s administrative offices but not to the local residents’ houses, but many of them feared the flame could separate out. The SAC’s Township Fire Department did not move out in order to stop the fire, amid the fighting occurred at the night.
“The armed resistance groups came in with trucks and burnt down these offices – general administration, forestry and immigration at 10.00 p.m. It took an hour. The SAC military base shot with mortar shells into the town. After touching these offices, the armed groups left from town”, said a local Three Pagoda Pass resident, who did not want to identify his name because of the security.
In the morning of January 24, the town seemed quiet. There are only a few out on the streets and the city market is quiet, which is the most busiest location.
Some town residents and business people, those who have Thai identity or recognized cards packed up their belongings and tried to move into Thailand gradually.
He also continues, “Quiet in this morning and no people on the streets. the town residents are in fear, as they are concerned more fighting can break out anytime. Some moved to Thailand and while moving and hid in the forest areas nearby.”
He also confirmed the flame from the SAC administrative offices not separated to other civilians’ houses. However, the Burmese Army shot mortar shells into the civilians’ houses and the losses are not confirmed yet by IMNA.
In the last two days, the Burmese Army’s air force also striked with bombs onto a house of senior military commander of Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), Col. Aye One. The fighting between the Burmese Army and the revolutionary groups often occurred in Kya-inn- seiky Township, Karen State.
