Residents living along the Gyaing River in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State, say they are living in fear due to near-daily mortar shelling by military junta troops stationed in the area, despite no ongoing clashes.
According to locals, military battalions based in Kyaikmaraw Township, particularly Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 208 and LIB 81 based in Zar Ta Pyin, as well as troops stationed near a monastery in Dhammasa village, have been firing mortar shells indiscriminately into nearby villages.
“They’ve been shelling often on this side. Just last night around 8 p.m., six mortar shells were fired. It’s happening almost every day. The military is targeting areas inside villages and farmlands. People are terrified—we can’t even move around freely,” a local man from Kyaikmaraw said.
Due to the ongoing threat, local administrators have advised villagers to inform authorities in advance if they need to travel, even for urgent or routine matters.
Villagers from Kawtpalaing, Dhammasa, Thankalaung, Tarana, and Kawt Bein along the Gyaing River have not reported casualties this month. However, several homes have been damaged by the shelling, residents confirmed.
Many locals have stopped working in their farms and gardens, fearing a full-scale battle might break out. Some families have already fled to towns to seek safety.
“This month there haven’t been any injuries yet. But about six months ago, five people were injured—some were rubber plantation workers, others were local residents and children. There were even fatalities. That’s why everyone now moves around with extreme caution,” said a farmer from the Kawk Swel area.
To minimize risks, local authorities and residents are working together to prepare safety measures in areas most likely to be hit by mortar fire.
On June 10, a separate incident occurred in Kyondoe Township, where four children from the Konemyinttharyar neighborhood of Myaukkyarinn village were injured when a mortar shell fired from a junta artillery base exploded in their village.
In Kyaikmaraw Township, villages along the Gyaing River frequently witness clashes between resistance joint forces and junta troops. Residents say that in addition to shelling, junta forces have also conducted airstrikes in the area.
The attacks have caused significant damage to civilian property, including homes, schools, and monasteries. Civilian injuries and fatalities from these attacks are also reported to be on the rise.
