Several civilians and security personnel killed in clashes between KNLA forces, junta troops in Kayin State

By DMG 19 Apr 2022

DMG Newsroom
19 April 2022, Sittwe 

There have been more than 200 clashes so far this month in Kayin State areas controlled by Brigade 5 and Brigade 6 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), killing at least 16 civilians, according to sources close to the ethnic armed group.

In a statement on April 19, KNLA Brigade 5 said 174 clashes took place between the Myanmar military and its allied Border Guard Force (BGF) troops and coalition forces led by the KNLA between April 1 and 15 in Mutraw District, killing four locals and injuring two others. 

Heavy artillery fire by the military and BGF damaged homes in Hto Khay Lo and No Phaw Htee villages near the Papun-Kamamaung road, killing two locals and injuring two others, said a source close to KNLA Brigade 5. According to the statement issued by KNLA Brigade 5, junta forces fired 430 artillery shells, destroying nearly 20 houses in the area. 

Meanwhile, there were 55 clashes between Myanmar military-BGF forces and the KNLA coalition in the area controlled by KNLA Brigade 6, killing 87 junta soldiers and BGF members, and wounding 45 others. Twelve members of the KNLA coalition forces were killed and 17 others were wounded in the clashes. 

There were more than 20 airstrikes by the Myanmar military, destroying more than 10 houses in Lay Kay Kaw Myothit, killing four and injuring eight locals, according to a member of KNLA Brigade 6. 

“More than 10 locals have been killed and wounded in more than 20 airstrikes by the Myanmar military,” the KNLA member added. 

The Myanmar military conducted aerial surveillance operations several times over KNLA Brigade 6 territory in Kawkareik Township and Lay Kay Kaw in Myawaddy Township on April 19, according to a source on the ground. 

The KNLA’s Brigade 6 in Dooplaya District on April 8 warned vehicles to use the Kawkareik-Myawaddy Asia Highway road and the Myawaddy-Wallay road only from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.