The Warazup People’s Militia Force (PMF) forced some residents living near their camp in Sanpya village to relocate by 18 August after the group, which is allied with the regime, was attacked by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) a few days earlier.

PMF leader Min Zin Thant told the elderly villagers at a meeting that Lamung Tang Gun, whose house is about 300 metres from their camp, should move out of his house within 5 days, according to a Sanpya man who requested anonymity. ”I heard that the Sanpya PMF (as they’re locally called) has also asked other villagers living near their camp to vacate their house, but I can not say how many people have to leave.”

Over 500 families live in the village.

The armed group has reportedly sent eviction notices to all homeowners near them and instructed farmers not to sleep in their paddy fields at night, which are also near the camp in Hpakant Township, Kachin State.

Lamung Tang Gun told the KNG that they’re unable to move the house he’s lived in for ten years in the time allotted. “I’m afraid of all the armed organisations, so we decided to leave. But at the moment I cannot move my house.”

”They cannot fire their heavy weapons when villagers are near the camp,” said another anonymous source from Jahtuzup, assuming they want to remove residents to defend their camp from future KIA raids.

KIA troops attacked the Sanpya PMF military camp on 11 August but failed to capture it.

The PMF camp was established in 2019.