Local residents report that thousands of civilians have been forced to flee as the military council conducts clearance operations and burns villages in Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region. Starting from June 23, the military council has split into two columns to launch attacks on villages in the township. One column from Taung Zin police station and another column with armored vehicles from Nyaung-U town have been targeting and attacking villages in the area.
On June 23, a 15-minute clash occurred between a military council column of about 80 troops and revolutionary forces between West Aung village and Ziphyupin village, according to a statement from the People’s Democratic Army (PDA). The following day on June 24, military forces entered and burned down Zaymagyi village, which had over 100 households. However, villagers managed to escape in time and avoided capture, according to local sources. Currently, nearly 10,000 civilians from about 20 villages including Zaymagyi, Zipyinpin, Yatawgyi, Myaung, Gyokan, and Kyaukkan have been displaced by the military operations.
Local revolutionary sources report that the military columns consist of 200-300 troops, including many Pyu Saw Htee militia members. Additionally, the military council is forcibly recruiting young people from villages as porters for military service. There are also reports of forced recruitment of men and youth for military service in Nyaung-U town itself. The military’s operations in the area came after pro-military Telegram channels repeatedly called for clearance operations in response to reported attacks on military forces and non-CDM participants in the Nyaung-U area.
