The Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) called on the international community to take action to protect civilians targeted by the junta during fighting with its armed wing, the Karenni Army (KA), and other forces resisting the dictatorship in Karenni State.

"They are deliberately attacking civilians... they also burn houses and other buildings in the villages,"  Aung San Myint, secretary 2 of the KNPP, told NMG.

He said the Burma Army (BA) is committing war crimes such as ethnic cleansing and genocide and called for outside intervention to designate a safe zone for civilians during the conflict.

Aung San Myint pointed out that regime forces killed and wounded people in air strikes in Loikaw, Demawso and Hpruso in the last week.

At least six people died and three were wounded when the junta launched its offensive against KA and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force and People Defence Force in the Karenni State capital.

The regime has cut off electricity and water in Loikaw on the weekend. The daily airstrikes and artillery attacks have forced most of the 51,000 residents to flee the town for other villages or southern Shan State, in addition to this over a 150,000 have fled previous offensives in the state with many people still displaced.