The Karen National Liberation Army(KNLA) issued an order, warning the public not to travel together with militarycouncil soldiers in Mon State and Tanintharyi Region starting 15 June.

The statement said the vehicles traveling along No. 8 road in Mawlamyine,Mudon, Thanbyuzayat, Yay, Dawei and Myeik Townships in Mon State andTanintharyi Region must strictly follow the order.

There are four points in the order issued by the Karen National LiberationArmy (KNLA).  The four orders are: 1. Buses and the public travelling inMawlamyine, Mudon, Thanbyuzayat, Ye, Dawei and Myeik and No.8 road need toaccept the inspection of the KNLA members, 2. Do not carry the personsassociated with the military council and materials, 3. Do not travel togetherwith junta soldiers and 4. Other EAOs and vehicles are required to acceptinspection.

A resident who did not want to be named said: “These days fighting is goingon. Do not travel. They have to do this because they want to distinguish theenemy from the people. In the past, innocent people were killed.”

At present, fighting is taking place between the military council troops anda combined force of the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army(KNU/KNLA) and the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) in Mawlamyine, Mudon,Thanbyuzayat, Ye, Dawei and Myeik Townships. Locals have fled to safer places.

The announcement was released with the signature of Battalion Commander SawNe Dar Htoo of the KNLA Brigade (6), No.27.

The KNLA said it has to issue the statement as military council soldiers aretravelling using passengers as cover.

In addition, the KNLA has already penetrated and controlled the road alongthe No. 8 road. Travellers are urged to follow the order so as not to cause anyharm.

According to the report from the KNU (Central), there were 9,000 battles inthe KNU-controlled territories in Karen State, Mon State, Bago Region andTanintharyi Region during over two years of the coup. More than 400,000 localsin the KNU-controlled territories have been displaced by the military council’sground offensive and airstrikes.