Junta steps up nightly artillery strikes in Kyaukphyu

By Admin 12 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 December 2023, Kyaukphyu

The junta’s military bases in Kyaukphyu Township have carried out continuous artillery and naval bombardment and shooting since renewed fighting broke out between the regime and the Arakan Army (AA) in the second week of November.

Junta Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 542 and 543, the Danyawaddy naval base, and other outposts and warships have fired shots and artillery strikes daily on Kyaukphyu, said residents.

“Mostly, they fire at night, and the noise is therefore loud. Whenever we hear strikes, we have concerns that the military is targeting us. There is still no case of junta shells landing on residential areas,” said a female resident of Nga La Pwe ward.

The regime has also built new outposts in at least four wards on the outskirts of Kyaukphyu town, and junta soldiers dressed in camouflage are reportedly guarding the area and sometimes fire shots.

Some residents have fled Kyaukphyu town to rural areas.

A female resident who has evacuated from her home in Kyaukphyu town said: “As they are firing shots frequently, town residents no longer dare to stay in the town. We are concerned that fighting may break out soon. Even if fighting does not erupt in the town, there is a high possibility that we could starve to death. So, we have secretly fled to the village where my relatives are living.”

The regime is reportedly planning to let go of control of rural areas in Kyaukphyu Township, and to tighten its grip on the town. As such, the regime may step up arrests of civilians, tighten security and fire shots including artillery more frequently, social activists warned.

“As the regime can’t control rural areas in Kyaukphyu, it would mount its defence in the town, and fire artillery shells using warships and cannons. They are threatening the town residents that they can incinerate the town anytime,” said a town resident.

The AA has not yet carried out attacks to seize junta bases in Kyaukphyu Township. Personnel at police outposts in several villages have either abandoned their positions or surrendered to the AA since renewed fighting broke out on November 13.

Town residents have accused the regime of plotting to use them as human shields.