Escalating violence in Pai Khun (Pekon) Township has drawn condemnation after Myanmar military forces and their ally, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) militia, allegedly torched homes in a Kayan ethnic village on June 24, marking the second such attack on the community in three years.

According to the Pai Khun (Pekon) Shan Youth Network (PSYN), Saung Nang Ke village, located in the Loi Paw village tract on the eastern bank of Pai Khun Township, was targeted around 5 p.m. as joint military and PNO forces advanced into the area. The assault left extensive damage in its wake, with over 50 households affected, though the exact number of destroyed homes remains unconfirmed.

“The fires erupted in the late afternoon amid heavy weapon fire, and the situation remains volatile. A full assessment of the destruction is impossible at this stage,” a PSYN spokesperson told reporters.

This is not the first time Saung Nang Ke has faced devastation, the village was similarly razed during clashes in 2022. Local sources indicate that the community is predominantly Kayan, an ethnic minority repeatedly caught in the crossfire of the conflict.

The attack followed a military buildup on June 23, when reinforcements from the Myanmar military and PNO militia arrived near the village, east of Pai Khun town. Clashes erupted shortly after and intensified overnight.

Since early 2023, joint forces have conducted relentless ground and aerial operations across Pai Khun and Mong Pai (Mobye) regions in an attempt to wrest control from resistance groups. However, their campaigns have increasingly targeted civilian areas, displacing ethnic communities and drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations.

Rights groups are urging international intervention to monitor the conflict zone and protect vulnerable populations, as reports of arson, forced displacement, and civilian casualties continue to mount.