Civilian and military casualties reported in deadly June for Kayah State

By DMG 07 Jul 2022

DMG Newsroom
7 July 2022, Loikaw, Kayah State

Fighting between Myanmar’s military regime and anti-junta forces in Kayah State last month killed at least six people, injured 22 more and destroyed 12 homes, including two religious buildings, the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) said on July 1.

Fighting between a resistance coalition led by the KNDF and junta troops erupted in June when the Myanmar military launched a major offensive in Kayah (Karenni) State.

A KNDF source said 12 homes, including two churches in Hpruso and Loikaw townships, were destroyed by artillery fire and arson perpetrated by the regime.

“The Myanmar military sent reinforcements to Kayah State in June. Clashes erupted when junta troops confronted the KNDF. The junta troops fired artillery shells into the villages, destroying 12 homes including two churches,” said the KNDF official.

“The Myanmar military’s shelling killed five people and injured over 20 in [Kayah State’s] Demoso and Hpruso townships, and across five villages in [southern Shan State’s] Moebye Township,” said a Karenni relief worker.

Four children and two adults were killed in the junta’s shellings, according to Karenni human rights activists.

“Two men in their 50s were killed as an artillery shell fired by the Myanmar military hit a home while the two were sleeping inside the home,” a Karenni human rights activist said. “Four children ranging in age from 4 to 18 were among those killed by the junta shelling. The Myanmar military deliberately fired artillery shells into the villages.”

There were more than 30 clashes between regime forces and the KNDF-led coalition in Kayah State in June. At least 25 soldiers from the regime were killed and five others were injured in the fighting, including an army captain and two sergeants, and five KNDF members were wounded, according to ground sources.