In areas controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU) in Thaton District, more than 5,000 local residents have been displaced and remain unable to return to their homes due to airstrikes and heavy artillery shelling carried out by the Military Commission during the election period, according to displaced civilians and humanitarian aid groups.
The military bases primarily responsible for shelling villages where civilians live are Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 3, based near Paingdawai Village in Bilin Township, and Artillery Battalion No. 310, based in Kyaikto Town. From December 12 last year to January 26, artillery fire from these bases reportedly killed 12 people and injured nine others.
As a result of the shelling, residents from at least 10 villages in Bilin and Kyaikto townships in Thaton District—more than 5,000 people in total—have been forced to flee their homes, sources said.
“Since the election period began, they have been firing in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. They shoot whenever they feel like it. Because of this, local people are afraid to stay. Right now, many people are displaced—some are hiding in plantations, while most have gone to stay with relatives. There are no displacement camps here,” said a male resident from Bilin.
Among the displaced population, around 1,000 people have taken refuge in villages located between Kyaikto and Bilin townships. A humanitarian network official noted that many women and children are among those seeking shelter in these displacement areas.
Displaced communities are currently in urgent need of emergency food supplies, drinking water, medicine, and shelter. Displacement assistance groups are reportedly making arrangements to provide humanitarian support.
“As far as we know, there are around 1,000 displaced people in Phowa Thein Village alone. At the moment, we are planning to provide assistance for displaced people through HRFOM and MSFC,” the official added.
Previously, on December 31 at around 6:30 a.m., resistance forces ambushed Military Commission troops deployed to secure a military convoy near Alule Village along the Mawlamyine–Yangon highway. As a result, a total of 17 soldiers, including a deputy battalion commander from LIB No. 3, were reportedly killed.
According to information from a humanitarian network, the Military Commission has continued to carry out heavy artillery shelling and airstrikes against civilians in Kyaikto and Bilin townships. The report states that at least 10 incidents of artillery shelling and one airstrike were carried out during the month of December.
