Crimes Against Humanity
Yesterday, the regime’s army committed its deadliest attack on civilians since the coup by killing over 100 people in Pazigyi Village in the southern Sagaing Region. However, it was not the first time nor the last time that Min Aung Hlaing’s soldiers are responsible for the mass slaughter in Myanmar. We look back at the three massacres that were committed by the junta’s forces in March 2023.
- Massacre in Sagaing tsp, Sagaing Region
Between the evening of February 28 and March 1, 15 villagers were brutally tortured and killed by the regime’s soldiers in Tartine Village, Sagaing Township, Sagaing Region. On February 28, the junta’s forces marched along the Ayawaddy River from Myinmu Township and conducted a surprise raid on Tartine Village. They ran into Ko Michael @ Ko Kyaw Saw, a villager/PDF leader on the way to the village. They tortured, butchered, and killed him before entering the village. Ko Michael’s disfigured body was found in pieces the following day. The regime’s soldiers abducted 14 villagers including three women and took them as hostages on their exit. The dead bodies of all of them were later found bearing bullet wounds and torture signs. Those identified were Ko Michael’s brother Ko Tun Tun aged 25, Ko Kyaw Soe aged 35, U Soe Naing aged 47, U Nga Lin aged 45, and Ko Kyaw Kyaw aged 34. The local groups have called for more serious intervention from the international community as they believe the military is set to turn these areas into ashes sometime soon.
- Regime’s forces committed another massacre in Pinlaung tsp, Shan State
On March 12, the local resistance forces found the dead bodies of 30 people and 3 monks in Nantnein Village, Pinlaung Township, Shan State. According to initial reports, the regime’s soldiers raided the village on March 11, using airstrikes and artillery fire. The troops then rounded the monastery, which had been used as a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP), ordering everyone to come out and line up before opening fire and killing all of them. In total, there were 30 IDPs and 3 monks. The process of identification and cremation of each victim has been coordinated between Karenni Nationality Defense Force (KNDF), Karenni Army (KA), and regional PDFs who have vowed to take vengeance against the regime for this massacre.
- Airstrike on civilians in Thantlang tsp, Chin State
On March 30, the regime’s forces conducted an airstrike on Phokwar Village, six miles north of Thantlang Town, Chin State. Despite lack of active conflict in the area, the military jet shelled four bombs on the village in the morning attack. At least 10 civilians were killed including three children and five women while more than 20 were injured. A church and many houses were also damaged by the aerial attack. The attack came three days after the coup leader Min Aung Hlaing vowed to eradicate all the ethnic armed organizations that cooperate with the NUG and support PDF.
This was originally published in our latest magazine issue which can be read here: http://bit.ly/3zlKdTp
