{"id":74486,"date":"2019-04-15T20:28:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T13:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freeburmarangers.org\/?p=74486"},"modified":"2019-04-15T20:28:00","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T13:28:00","slug":"villagers-flee-home-karen-state-burma-army-builds-roads-violates-ceasefire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/2019\/04\/15\/villagers-flee-home-karen-state-burma-army-builds-roads-violates-ceasefire\/","title":{"rendered":"Villagers Flee Home in Karen State as Burma Army Builds Roads and Violates the Ceasefire"},"content":{"rendered":"

Villagers Flee Home in Karen State as Burma Army Builds Roads and Violates the Ceasefire<\/h1>\n

15 April 2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Karen State, Burma<\/p>\n

\"A
A villager holds up a sign protesting the Burma Army building a road and bridge in Karen State.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Earlier this year, the Burma Army in Karen State\u2019s\u00a0Kler Lwe Htoo and Mu Traw districts continued to violate the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA)\u00a0by moving troops through Karen areas and rebuilding roads in Karen areas without permission.<\/span><\/p>\n

At 0717 on Feb. 19, Karen soldiers ambushed Burma Army trucks in the Paw Klo Hta and Ku Day village areas, Luthaw Township, because the trucks had driven beyond the area agreed upon by the Karen and Burma Army. In response, the Burma Army\u00a0fired 246 mortar rounds into the area and on both sides of the road, leaving the villagers too afraid to go work in their fields.<\/span><\/p>\n

The next day, Feb. 20, fighting broke out at Thay\u00a0Nwe\u00a0Klo, northeast of\u00a0Muthe\u00a0Village,\u00a0Kler\u00a0Lwe Htoo District, between Karen soldiers and the Burma Army. The Burma Army had begun patrolling the area both day and night as they wanted to rebuild a road between\u00a0Kler\u00a0Soe, in Mu Traw District, and\u00a0Muthe\u00a0Village. Burma Army soldiers told local villagers that they would shoot anyone seen carrying a gun.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
The road and bridge under construction by the Burma Army.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO) commander\u00a0in Kler Lwe Htoo District\u00a0did not grant permission for the road, the Burma Army continued building.<\/span><\/p>\n

On February 23, fighting again broke out, causing people in Pa Kaw\u00a0Hta\u00a0Village to flee their homes. Civilians around the area refused to\u00a0agree to the Burma Army roadwork, even going so far as to send a letter to the Tactical Operations Command (TOC). The Burma Army ignored their statements and continued to build.<\/p>\n

\"Villagers
Villagers from Pa Kaw Hta Village take apart their homes before fleeing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On March 27, fighting broke out between Karen soldiers and Burma Army\u00a0IB 48 east of\u00a0Muthe\u00a0Village after the Burma Army had patrolled beyond their area, almost reaching a KNDO outpost. Two Burma Army soldiers died in the clash.<\/span><\/p>\n

The same day, another clash broke out on the border of Mu\u00a0Traw and Kler Lwe Htoo districts. Three Burma Army soldiers were wounded in the clash.<\/span><\/p>\n

Four Burma Army battalions have been seen recently in the\u00a0Muthe\u00a0area. They are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n