July 29, 2011 Schools in Finghting Area Closed
Schools in Mae Kwee Hta, Law Pu, Wae Pya, Wa T’mu, Mae Hsait, Mae Law Hta, Htee Lar Nae, Yaw Po, T’kwee Kla, Th’ray Poe Kwee, K’mah Hta, Kwee Lay, P’nweh Tha Kla and Htee Per have had to close due to fighting between BGF(Border Guard Force) and the Formal DKBA(Democratic Karen Buddist Army) who have rejected BGF. Saw Paw K’la, a DKBA medic who has just returned from the fighting area said, “BGF troops are patrolling the highest mountains and firing mortars at areas they see as suspect; this is resulting in villages being hit. Therefore, all the schools have had to close as the villagers were afraid and fled to safer areas.”
Due to the fighting between BGF and DKBA, the percentage of parents taking their children out of school has become very high even though they have fled to a safer area, according to Saw Paw Kla.
A former BGF’s wife who wishes to remain anonymous said, “Soon after I realized that my husband rejected BGF, I took my children out of school. The children did not understand the current situation and the level of risk for them until I explained it to them. Her daughter Naw Bleh Blen Hser who was in 7th standard but has now dropped out school said, “I’m missing my school mates very much. I don’t where they are now. I’m not sure whether they are still attending school or not. Hopefully, I can go to school with them again very soon.”
A source from local villages in fighting area, said that some villagers have fled to Kaw Taw Pu(Myeing Gyi Ngu) while a number of families totaling more than 100 people fled to Mae Th’waw (Thai-Burma Border) on 25th July. There might be more people arriving at the Thai-Burma border if the fighting continues, a source close to DKBA said.
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