Escalating Conflict Threatens Mon Villages: Destruction Looms Over Kawt Bein

Myanmar Spring Chronicle – March 28 Scenes

MoeMaKa, March 29, 2024

Escalating Conflict Threatens Mon Villages: Destruction Looms Over Kawt Bein

As clashes intensify between armed groups and the military council in Myanmar, the peaceful villages along the border of Mon and Karen States face the grim reality of destruction and displacement. Recent battles, notably the capture of the Kawt Bein Village police station by a coalition of the New Mon State Party (Anti-Military Dictatorship), PDF, and KNU forces, have escalated tensions and led to devastating consequences for local communities.

Following the capture of the police station, Kawt Bein Village and neighboring Dhammasa Village were subjected to relentless artillery shelling, resulting in a catastrophic fire that engulfed more than 280 homes on March 27. The subsequent day witnessed further bombardment and destruction, exacerbating the plight of residents already reeling from the trauma of conflict.

Situated near Mawlamyine, key villages such as Zar Ta Pyin, Dhammasa, Kawt Bein, and Than Lel are predominantly inhabited by the Mon people. While historically insulated from direct conflict, recent developments have thrust these communities into the crosshairs of violence, raising concerns about the safety and security of civilians.

The emergence of breakaway factions, such as the New Mon State Party (Anti-Military Dictatorship), has complicated the region’s dynamics, prompting speculation about their objectives and allegiances. With ongoing battles raging across Mon and Karen States, including strategic locations like Hpa-An and Kawkareik Towns, the military council finds itself stretched thin, struggling to contain multiple fronts of resistance.

In response to the perceived threat posed by breakaway groups, the military council has resorted to heavy-handed tactics, including indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, in a bid to quash dissent and prevent the expansion of new military fronts. However, such measures have only served to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, leaving innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

The economic livelihoods of Mon villages, reliant on agriculture and cross-border trade with Thailand, now hang in the balance as homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure succumb to the ravages of war. With each passing day, the specter of further destruction looms large, casting a dark shadow over the once-peaceful communities.

Amidst the chaos, questions linger about the future course of action for breakaway factions and the communities they seek to represent. Will they prioritize the safety and well-being of civilians, or will their ambitions lead to further bloodshed and suffering? As Myanmar grapples with an uncertain future, the fate of its people hangs in the balance, caught between the forces of conflict and the quest for peace.