On 21 January, security forces make an assault on KNPP and PDF terrorists who were hiding and conducting acts of terrorism in the San Pya (6) mile village in the south of Loikaw, Kayah State. The terrorists finally fled towards the locally-known Gurkha village located in the northwest of the village. When the security forces followed them, more terrorist groups hiding in Hopheik village had used vehicles to reinforce their attacks in the Gurkha village. Therefore, security forces conduct interdiction attacks using heavy weapons and close air support not to harm the local communities, civilian and government office buildings.
On 22 January, after security forces pursued and attacks the fleeing terrorists, the Hopheik village fell under the control until terrorists can no longer hide.
In the incidents of attacks, it found that terrorists fought against the security forces by making bunkers, and fortified covers at residential houses, governmental buildings and religious buildings, as well as placing sand bag bunkers, making concrete bunkers, and digging trenches of commination in the residential wards.
Moreover, when security forces arrived the Hopheik village, U Soe Htway, 50 living in Minelone ward of Loikaw city and a woman around 40 (name under scrutiny) were found put into stocks. The woman was already dead with the eyes gouged and pierced. As U Soe Htway was found with serious injuries of beatigs, security forces provided him necessary treatments and he was taken to the local military hospital.
According to the further investigations:
- On 17 January, a clash occurred between a security military column and the terrorist insurgents who had planned to attack the Loikaw city on the Kayah state day which fell on 15 January.
- Before the clash, terrorist groups abducted U Soe Htway after accusing him of ‘informant/dalan’ and tortured him daily.
- When security force arrived at the village, they shot to the captives and left the village returning fire against the former.
- There were five captives of civilian in total including the above-mentioned two forcibly abducted by terrorist groups. The terrorist relocated other three captives on 21 January.
- Some dead bodies in KNPP uniforms and civilian dresses along with weapons and ammunitions were confiscated from the terrorist insurgents.
-
The KNPP and PDF terrorists are fighting against the security forces by taking covers of non-military targets such as religious buildings, schools and homes, driving off the locals from their houses, digging bunkers at the said places to fire against security forces and using locals as human shields instead of letting them leave the danger zones. Therefore, such doings are the deliberate acts of war crimes according to the Geneva Conventions and international laws. It is reported that security forces continue to fight against them to prevent civilian casualties and maintain peace and stability in the local community.
- In the San Pya (6) mile village in the south of Loikaw, Kayah State, KNPP and PDF terrorists are fighting against the security forces by taking covers of non-military targets such as religious buildings, schools and homes, driving off the locals from their houses, digging bunkers at the said places to fire against security forces and using locals as human shields instead of letting them leave the danger zones.
- U Soe Htway living in Minelone ward of Loikaw city and a woman around 40 (name under scrutiny), who were used as human shield, were found put into stocks.
- The woman was already dead with the eyes punctured and gouged and U Soe Htway was seriously injured by beatings.