NAYPYITAW, 03 Septermber 2021, (TON): At least 70 junta troops were killed during fighting in ethnic Karenni territory between mid-July and the end of August, local resistance groups estimate, noting that the exact number of soldiers and police killed is not known.

From July 12 until August 31, around 30 clashes took place in Bawlakhe, Hpruso, Demoso and Loikaw townships in Kayah State and in Pinlaung and Pekhon in southern Shan State, all areas with large ethnic Karenni populations.

Spokespersons for the Karenni Defence Force (KNDF) and the Pekhon People’s Defence Force (PDF) told media that 70 casualties was a conservative guess and that the actual number of deaths on the junta’s side could be even higher.

Take last night’s battle [in Loikaw] for example. We could see them getting hit and some of them falling to their deaths but we can’t count the exact number of deaths as it’s really difficult.

During the six-week period in question, the local resistance forces claimed that one PDF member from southern Shan State had been killed and others injured, a figure they attributed to the clashes largely being PDF ambushes on the junta’s armed forces.

The junta has not released any information regarding casualties suffered by its armed forces during fighting in Kayah and southern Shan States.

There was lull in fighting in Karenni territory in the second half of June, but the Karenni Army (KA), the armed wing of the Karenni National Progressive Party and its local resistance force allies resumed fighting against the military in early July. Those forces include the KNDF, and multiple PDF groups, including those from Pekhon, Moebye and Demoso.