A civilian in northern Shan State was beaten by Tatmadaw soldiers, who arrived in the man’s village after the other residents fled clashes.

Sai Tun Win, who is a parliamentarian for Kyaukme Township, told SHAN the other villagers left Aek Gyee village when fighting broke out between the Burma Army and Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) on June 28.

“Soldiers came into the village and beat Aik Maung,” says Sai Tun Win, releasing the 60-year-old the next day.

Aik Maung sustained serious injuries from the attack by the Burma Army. He received treatment at the Kyaukme Public Hospital.

During the clashes, on the morning of June 29, a man was killed and a woman wounded after a shell landed in Pan Kyan village in Hai Kwee village-tract.

Sai Tun Win says more than 500 villagers displaced in Kyaukme Township by the fighting need emergency food support. “These people couldn’t bring anything together with them when they fled,” he explains. Over 300 took shelter in Nawng Peing village and more than 200 stayed in a monastery in Pan Lod village.

Sai Tun Win says the Burma Army arrested two residents of Hai Kwe on June 27. Two other men were forced to guide the army on June 28. All the men were released the next night.

Locals fear the conflict will worsen with both groups now in a standoff with each other.

In 2016, villagers had to flee when the Burma Army launched offensives to drive the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP/SSA) out of the area.