Myanmar Spring Chronicle – October 06
MoeMaKa, October 07, 2023
Mass Exodus in Hpruso as Air Raids Terrify Residents: A Glimpse of Karenni State
In an alarming turn of events, thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes in six villages in the eastern part of Hpruso Township, located in Karenni State, due to relentless air strikes carried out by the military council. Karenni State, while small in terms of both population and geographical area, has witnessed a surge in armed resistance following the military coup, with many regions now under the control of the Karenni Revolutionary Armed Forces, also known as the Karenni Army (KA). However, the military council continues to maintain a presence in cities, battalion bases, and military training schools throughout the state.
The Karenni State stands out as one of the areas where armed resistance has flourished most profoundly since the coup. This unique state of unity within Karenni State has served as a model for both armed forces and political entities. Despite its limited geographical expanse, the coalescence of various ethnic groups has facilitated military and political organization in the region.
Notably, the Karenni State’s example of unity is setting a precedent for other regions where military and political consolidation is still in progress, including the Sagaing Region, the Northern Magway Region, and Chin State. These regions, although making promising strides in the armed movement, require further consolidation. It’s understood that political unification forms the bedrock upon which military consolidation, resistance, and the occupation of areas controlled by military council forces can be built.
In a separate development, on October 4th, military council forces carried out airstrikes in the Dooplaya District within KNU Brigade 6 territory. The airstrike, aimed at clearing the way for the South Eastern Military Regional Command to transport supplies to the Military Council’s Kwi Lone Taing base camp in Noetakaw Township of Dooplaya District, involved the dropping of 500-pound bombs. Regrettably, the attack targeted a Christian church, although no casualties were reported.
Recently, the former KNU Chairman, Saw Mutu Say Poe, along with the former Dooplaya District President, Padoh Saw Shwe Maung, and the former KNU Defense Department Head, held a meeting with the Chairman of the Military Council in Nay Pyi Taw. This meeting was seen as an attempt by the military council to engage ethnic armed forces in peace talks before the anniversary of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on October 15. These aerial bombardment attacks on ethnically armed areas represent a conflicting stance on the part of the military council. Simultaneously opening multiple military fronts while tactically reducing engagements with certain ethnic armed forces raises questions about the council’s sincerity in these efforts.