Thousands of civilians staged protests in 11 villages in southeastern Myanmar’s Kayin and Mon states Wednesday, demanding that the country’s military withdraw from their area and abide by a nationwide cease-fire agreement reached in 2015, RFA reported.

Recent armed clashes have caused more than 5,000 residents to flee their homes for Internally Displaced Peoples’ camps.

Protesters from 11 villages in the conflict zone called for the Myanmar military to withdraw and adhere to NCA rules and the agreed-upon code of conduct as tensions between the two sides remain high.

The government forces have been stationed in the villages of Kyathaung Seik, Lay Kay, and Win Tar Pan in territory controlled by the KNU on the border between Kayin state’s Hpa-an township and Mon state’s Belin township.