Casualties were reported during recent clashes between the junta forces and the combined forces of Karenni Army (KA) and Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) in Demawso Township.

”The fighting started because they invaded our area,” a KNDF Battalion 9 officer told Kantarawaddy Times, explaining that two KNDF soldiers died while 4 Burma Army (BA) soldiers were killed and 2 wounded when violence broke out near Wan Lahtwar village on the morning of 16 December. BA shelled villages in the area with artillery after the 20 minute clash, he said.

Kantarawaddy Times couldn’t independently confirm this information.

Since fighting began last May in Karenni State, clashes have been recurrent in the area around Sanpya Chauk Mai village tract, where Thursday’s fighting happened, forcing many civilians to flee to safety from the violence.

On the same day and around the same time, Karenni armed groups clashed with BA soldiers in Ner Kwe village in Loikaw Township.

A local resident, who preferred not to give his name, heard shells from BA Light Infantry Battalion 530 at 11am when Kantarawaddy Times called him. He did not know if there were any casualties in yesterday’s skirmish near Loilan Lay. On Wednesday, many residents had fled when a BA column arrived. Fighting happened in Loilan Lay area a few days earlier.