Five villages that were home to more than 540 internally displaced Karen civilians have been fired on and burnt to the ground by the Burmese military.

The Karen National Union told DVB today that Burmese light infantry troops were behind the attacks that occurred earlier this month in the KNU’s brigade three area.

Baw Htoo from Lehwah village, which was also destroyed, said he and the other villagers were able to escape unharmed before their homes were torched.

“They started launching their attacks in areas around Shwe Kyin and Tatkyi townships on May 11. On the same day they burnt down the villages in the Lehwah area,” Baw Htoo said.

“I want to tell [the military] not to shoot us civilians, burn down our villages or our food supplies. It is more important for them to attack their target, the KNU,” he said.

The attacks follow a high number of strikes also committed by the military last month according to Saw Kyaw Bwe from the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People.

He said seven villages were fired on by Burmese troops in April and that one villager, a 61-year-old man, had been shot and killed by the Burma army. KNU general secretary Padoh Mahn Shar also told DVB that thousands of people had been forced to flee military attacks in Pha-pon district.

“They burnt down villages in Khae Oo, an area located on the edge of northern Pha-pon district. About 4200 villagers from 28 villages fled their homes,” Padoh Mahn Shar said.