Junta troops killed eight civilians and burned down more than 600 homes in Myanmar’s Sagaing region in 11 days of raids, locals told RFA Wednesday.
Residents of Myinmu township said four people were arrested and killed by troops between July 6 and July 17.
“A father and son from Na Be Kyu village, one from Ma Gyi Kan village, and one from Nyaung Myit village, were killed in Ma Gyi Kan village,” said a local, who didn’t want to be named for fear of reprisals.
“The one from Nyaung Myit village is a People’s Defense Force member.”
He identified the PDF member as 20-year-old Aung Zaw Htet.
Locals said troops also captured and shot two people from Nyaung Pin Kan village and two more from Khwet Khwin village.
The army also burned homes in Mu Mandalay, Gon Hnyin Seik and three other villages.
“There are nearly 300 houses in the village. I think there may have been around 100 homes destroyed,” said a Mu Mandalay resident, who also requested anonymity for fear of reprisals.
“The junta column is not far away. So, we had to put out the fire and come back out.”
RFA called the junta’s Sagaing region spokesperson, Saw Naing, but nobody answered.
On June 6, junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun told RFA that junta troops do not set fire to civilians’ homes, blaming People’s Defense Forces for the arson attacks.
Locals said the raid on Mu Mandalay and nearby villages forced around 2000 residents to flee their homes.
Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.
