Network Media Group

Amid the junta’s drone strikes and artillery shelling, residents of Demoso and Hpruso townships in Karenni State are risking their lives to harvest their rice before the season ends.

The junta realized that farmers had to finish harvesting their rice before the harvesting season ended, or the crops would go to waste. That’s why it deliberately targeted rice fields in the two townships.

Locals reported that nearly 200 acres of unharvested rice fields remain in five villages along the Union Highway linking Demoso and Hpruso towns.

“Some villagers are taking the risk and going out to harvest. Their whole livelihood depends on getting the rice in, so they have no choice. But they have to stay alert all the time. They drop everything and run whenever they see a drone coming,” said a Hpruso Township resident.

According to locals, the junta has been deliberately bombing crowds, residential areas, and farmlands in the area over the past two months. Sometimes reconnaissance drones appear before the strikes, while other times drones attack directly without any prior surveillance.

From the last week of August to the last week of October, the junta’s drone strikes in Hpruso Township killed two farmers, a man and a woman, and injured eight others. Similarly, in Demoso Township, a local man was killed, three others were injured, and some harvesting equipment was damaged.

The Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) announced on November 3 that the civilian casualties were caused by the junta’s unprovoked drone strikes targeting farmers harvesting rice.

“In Hpruso, the junta mainly uses drones to attack farmers. In Demoso, they hit with drones and artillery. The Infantry Battalion 102, based in Demoso Town, often fires artillery at the rice fields,” said Colonel Phone Naing, adjutant general of the Karenni Army (KA).

Although the resistance coalition temporarily suspended military operations to allow the population to harvest safely, the junta has been deliberately targeting local farmers, Colonel Phone Naing added.

“Even though there’s no fighting, the junta keeps attacking to scare people. It wants to stop people from working and make them starve,” he told NMG.

Locals warned that if the current harvesting season fails and the rice goes to waste, the communities will face serious food security challenges next year.

The KNDF announced on October 18 that the junta has opened five fronts in Karenni State’s Loikaw, Demoso, Hpruso, and Bawlakhe townships, as well as in Pekon Township in southern Shan State, engaging in prolonged battles with Karenni resistance forces.

Colonel Phone Naing urged residents of Karenni State to stay vigilant and maintain awareness of security at all times.

Published Date: November 7, 2025