Karenni resistance forces dismissed the junta’s claim of having taken full control of the strategically important Demoso Town in Karenni State as false propaganda.

Local resistance forces said the junta is still attempting to capture Demoso, with fierce clashes continuing on the ground.

The junta announced that it launched an offensive on Demoso on August 4 as part of Operation Yan Naing Min and claimed to have taken full control of the town by August 19. Resistance forces, however, clarified that the junta has only retaken certain parts of Demoso.

“The junta doesn’t control the entire town yet. Its troops have only retaken the central areas. They’ve also captured some parts to the east, and in the west, they’ve taken villages from Dawngankhar to Marnarpalawt,” said a resistance fighter.

The junta released photos showing its troops at Demoso Town’s entrance, Ngwetaungse Dam, the town hall, hospital, and high school, claiming they have captured the entire town.

The junta is pressing its offensive around Dawngankhar Village, west of Demoso Town, deploying over 300 troops from Infantry Battalion 102 (IB 102) and Light Infantry Battalion 427 (LIB 427), both based in the area, according to resistance frontline sources. The junta is mounting a fierce offensive, employing heavy artillery, airstrikes, battle tanks, and drone attacks in an effort to seize full control of the town, they added.

The junta launched the full-scale offensive on Demoso after recapturing Mobye (Mongpai) Town in southern Shan State, bordering Karenni State, on July 16.

“If we stay strong, we can seize the enemy’s territories, but if we weaken, they’ll take back what’s ours. That’s just the simple nature of war. Right now, we’re discussing how to respond to the enemy’s expanding offensive, and we’ll do our best to choose the most effective ways to defeat them,” said Khun Ye Khaung, a member of the Political Steering Committee of Kayan National Army (KNA).

In late 2023, Karenni resistance coalition forces launched Operation 1111, successfully capturing the towns of Pekon, Mobye, and Demoso, allowing displaced residents to return home.

However, the junta’s renewed offensives have forced over 15,000 residents of those towns and nearby villages to flee once again, according to the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) and local aid organizations.

On August 18, the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) announced that the junta used civilians as human shields during the Demoso offensive and urged the public to avoid the Loikaw-Demoso-Hpruso Highway and surrounding roads for the time being.

The junta is attempting to expand its controlled territories ahead of elections scheduled for later this year.