In recent weeks, government forces have intensified efforts to reclaim territory held by resistance groups in Karenni State. This push seems strategically timed ahead of upcoming elections, allowing claims of broader control over the population. Conversely, the resistance fights to protect civilians and preserve their way of life amid escalating violence.
The Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) has taken significant steps toward establishing a functioning civilian government. Despite limited resources, this administration manages schools, clinics, a police presence, and other essential services. Such initiatives aim to create a semblance of normalcy for displaced populations. Though the state capital, Loikaw, remains under junta control, Demoso is a contested city where daily artillery shelling adversely impacts civilians.
The ongoing fighting has also spread to the Pekon region, neighboring southern Shan State, where the KNDF has successfully retaken part of Pasaung. This stronghold was once bustling but now lies in ruins, reflecting the conflict’s toll. “This is where Oo Reh died,” a resistance soldier pointed out, revealing the human cost of the struggle as they mourned a hero lost while evacuating the wounded.
The struggle for Pasaung is more than just military strategy. It seeks to cement a vital route that connects Karenni State with Thailand, facilitating trade and improving food security. Yet, the debt of war weighs heavily on agricultural output as displacement hampers farming efforts. “Sometimes villages around that area, they just come closely watching the fighting like a football match,” noted one local, reflecting a grim normalization of violence.
As the resistance soldiers prepare for the next battle, they do so with a deep connection to their land, unlike the distant government troops. This local determination gives the resistance a critical advantage and drives their fight to reclaim not just territory, but their homes and way of life. The importance of morale cannot be understated, particularly when many soldiers are driven by personal investments in their communities amid the chaos.
The complexities of war unfold against a backdrop of deeper connections to people and place. The actions of government troops seem detached from these ties, an aspect that may embolden the resistance’s resolve. As each side gears up for what is likely to be intense fighting, the local populace remains caught in the crossfire, their lives disrupted but closely intertwined with the battle unfolding around them.
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