Due to the fighting that started early this morning in Kawkareik on the border trade route, junta forces inside the police station chased and shot anyone found on the road in Kawkareik Town, the residents of the town said.
According to a resident of Kawkareik, a fierce battle has been going on between the revolutionary forces and the junta troops in Kawkareik, Karen State, since 4:00 a.m. on December 1st, and the junta troops are constantly firing by using heavy weapons and air strikes.
“A young man passed by from the front of the police station, so they shot him from inside their station. He was lucky and escaped. Almost the entire town is avoiding war, so there are only a few people who are left as caretakers,” he said.
Due to fighting situation, trucks and passenger vehicles are blocked on Kawkareik, Hlaingwa, and Asia Highway, and there are also people trapped in Kawkareik Town.
“The fighting is going on, and the people who are there can’t leave anywhere. Being trapped means staying in your own house. There are people who are trapped near the municipal office,” said a person who is currently trapped in Kawkareik Town.
According to military information sources on the ground, the revolutionary forces have gained the upper hand over the junta troops and seized the camps on the side of the Asia Highway, and there are also junta troops who have surrendered with the white flag.
“The junta’s planes bombarded us four times during the night. This morning, they came and shot us with helicopters two times. They started firing with heavy weapons around 4 a.m.,” said one of the revolutionary forces.
On October 27, a fierce battle broke out between the KNLA joint forces and the military junta forces in Kawkareik. It was learned that the military intelligence office and the office of the police information force under the junta were destroyed by fire, and there were casualties on the side of the military junta as well.
