Nearly 20 villagers were arrested in a clash between junta troops and People’s Defense Forces (PDF) near to Pawa village in Tanintharyi Township, Myeik District at 6 a.m. on 17 February, according to locals.

Fighting broke out in Pawa, Thet Kal John, Gone MinTaw and PainTaw villages, and villagers fled in fear as the junta troops fired heavy artillery.

"The fighting broke out in the morning. It lasted for over an hour. Two soldiers were killed and villagers were arrested,” a Pawa villager said.

The fighting began after a military patrol plane flew by, according to locals.

"Yesterday [February 16], we received information that they had marched to, and taken up positions at War Tha Village, so we planted a mine in the Gon Min Taw mountain range around 7 a.m. Two soldiers were killed in the blast," a PDF member based in Tanintharyi Township said.

Currently, the military junta is firing heavy artillery and a locally based PDF group is fighting back with small arms and landmines to stop the progress of the Military Council contingent, according to a local PDF team.