August 17, 2023
In Tanintharyi Region, Dawei Township, according to residents, the military council infantry column was attacked with a mine when they entered the village of Thingen Tone village on the road of Dawei-Htikhi.
A member of the People’s Defence Forces said that they attacked a 100-strong military council infantry column that was coming down the main road from Heindar village towards Wakone village on August 16, around 1:00 p.m., in Thingan Tone village.
“The battle was around 1:00 p.m. The military council army came from the Heindar side towards Wakone. We drew a mine next to the Thingan Tone Bridge. The military council junta’s strength is more than 100,” he said.
After the mine attack, heavy weapons were exchanged between the People’s Defence Forces and the Military Council. A resident of the East Valley of the village said that the two sides exchanged fire with heavy and small weapons for 20 minutes.
“After pulling the mine, the exchange of fire took 15 minutes or almost 20 minutes, but we heard heavy weapons from our village for about 2 hours. Afterward, the heavy fires were shot from the military council army,” he said.
As a result of these firing attacks, the People’s Defence Forces were able to retreat without being harmed. While it was initially known that four people were killed from the side of the military council forces, People’s Radio Myanmar has not been able to independently confirm the exact number of deaths.
When the convoy left Heindar village, they abducted two men from Wakone village along with the convoy, but they released them as soon as the bombardment was happening.
According to the local defense forces, the military council soldiers who marched towards Wakone village were from the Myitta area camp and the Kyauk Mae Taung camp.
At present, according to residents, the military council column that was attacked before is based at the monastery in Leik Kyei Pyaung village.
Due to the arrival of military council troops, more than 100 residents of villages in the East Valley such as Wakone, Bawa Pin, Thingan Tone, and Leik Kyei Pyaung Village have had to flee and leave their homes, according to a person who helped refugees from the East Valley sides of the villages.
News: Naw An Ni
Photo: CJ
Phar Si Than (People’s Radio Myanmar)