After the military junta fired drones and heavy weapons near a village in Demoso Township, Karenni State, on January 14, a church was damaged, according to a male local resident.

“They fired heavy weapons. Before the artillery, drones came first and dropped bombs in the afternoon. In the evening, they shelled the area. Fortunately, there were no civilian casualties, but one of the shells landed inside a church, and it damaged parts of its walls and window mirrors,” he said.

Drones dropped bombs three times at around 11 a.m., and heavy artillery was fired after 5 p.m. from Loikaw.

Residents said there was no fighting in the area where the shells landed, and only civilians were living there. It is accused that the military junta deliberately intimidates the civilians.

In response to the junta’s shelling and drone attacks toward civilian areas, a revolutionary fighter on the ground issued a warning.

“Basically, the junta will continue committing war crimes, so there’s nothing surprising about it. Whether there is fighting or not, people should be extremely cautious when traveling,” he said.

Since ceremonies began in Loikaw for Kayah State Day, the military junta has been conducting heavy artillery daily toward areas outside the city. Local residents also added that security has been tightened throughout the city as U Aung Lin Dwe, Executive Secretary of the junta’s National Defence and Security Council, arrived in Loikaw to attend the 74th Kayah State Day ceremony.