Thai villagers protest after cross-border shelling from fighting in southern Myawaddy

Photo – Local Thai people protesting. Weapons from the ongoing battles in Fluu and Min Lepan areas, south of Myawady city. On October 27th, local Thai people protested in the village of Mangkuking, Mae Sot Township, Thailand, as small arms ammunition fell across the border. (Aung Aung)

Mizzima

Residents of Mae Kon Ken village in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, protested on 27 October after shells and gunfire from fighting in the Palu and Min Let Pan areas of southern Myawaddy, Myanmar, landed in Thailand.

Four 60 mm mortar shells fired from Myanmar landed in Ward 9 of Maha Wan tambon on 22 October, damaging the zinc roofs of four Thai homes and lightly injuring a Myanmar migrant woman, m.CDM reported. Some villagers near the river have moved to safer areas, and several learning centres for Myanmar migrant children are closed.

Protesters called on Thai authorities to take effective steps to protect lives and property.

The commander of the Thai Army’s Ratchamanu Task Force visited the area on 23 October and ordered 24-hour monitoring of the border. Khaosod English reported on 26 October that the task force would fire warning smoke rounds toward suspected firing positions if fire crosses the border, may take proportionate countermeasures if it finds the fire was intentional, will set up compensation for affected Thai residents, and will coordinate the voluntary return of displaced people from Myanmar once fighting ends.

Fighting continues along the Moei River in southern Myawaddy between junta forces and combined forces of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDF).