Interview: Woman who escaped Sittwe village massacre recounts unspeakable horror

By Admin 04 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
4 June 2024, Sittwe

More than 100 junta soldiers raided Byaing Phyu Village in Arakan State’s Sittwe Township on May 29. Junta soldiers carried out checks door to door, detaining everyone they could find — men, women, elderly people and even babies. It was the beginning of an unfolding massacre.

Junta soldiers slaughtered dozens of people — 76, according to the latest accounting from the Arakkha Army (AA) —  ranging in age from teens to 70s at the village school, cemetery and the entrance to the village, according to witnesses. Some residents were released later, but they were barred from re-entering the village.

DMG contacted one of the survivors to discuss what happened over three days in Byaing Phyu Village.

DMG: How did junta soldiers enter the village and what happened then?

Survivor: Junta soldiers stormed the village on the morning of May 29 and told the villagers not to worry about their safety. Junta soldiers besieged the village at around 1:30 p.m. on May 29 and ordered all residents out of the village. Junta soldiers divided men, women and children into groups and lined them up on the village road. Junta soldiers arrested the men, forced them to take off their shirts, then tied their faces to the shirts and dried them in the sun. 

The junta soldiers kept the women and children in the shade. Junta soldiers beat the men and did not give drinking water to them. Junta soldiers left the men in the sun all day and made them walk in the sun holding each other’s shoulders. Junta soldiers did not beat women and children and gave drinking water to them.

DMG: And what happened next?

Survivor: Around 100 junta soldiers arrived in the village in the evening. Many military trucks entered the village one by one. Women and children were taken to Wingabar [football] pitch and men were taken to the west of the village. We were not fed and spent one night on the street.

DMG: How were Byaing Phyu villagers killed?

Survivor: Policemen were deployed outside the village on May 30 and the villagers were not allowed to go outside their homes. We heard the sound of gunfire on May 30 and we did not see local men. We saw some men being beaten and shot by junta soldiers on May 29, but we didn’t know how many men were killed. We all stayed inside our homes as we were worried about our safety. We heard the sound of gunfire and thought some men were shot dead by the junta soldiers on May 29.

DMG: What happened the next day?

Survivor: Policemen were deployed in the village and around 30 detained men were released on May 31. About 60 men ranging in age from 16 to 60 were forcibly taken from the village. I don’t know where they were taken. The sounds of gunfire were heard. I think some men in the village were killed by junta soldiers on May 31.

DMG: Three detained women were reportedly raped by junta soldiers. What can you tell us about that?

Survivor: Three women were forcibly taken to cook food for the junta soldiers. The regime soldiers raped and released two women but killed one woman. The deceased is survived by a child. The two women raped and released by the junta soldiers are not married women. The two women did not say anything about the rape because they were shy. People tend to keep to themselves, so they don’t talk about these issues too much.

DMG: How did you escape?

Survivor: Junta soldiers took all women and children from the village on May 31 by vehicles and sent us to Wingabar [football] pitch in Sittwe. We were gathered there and were told to proceed to where we wanted. Regime officials collected a list about where we want to go. More than 300 elderly people, women and children were taken to Wingabar pitch in Sittwe.

DMG: The escapees were reportedly allowed to see the situation in the village before they were sent to Wingabar pitch in Sittwe. What did you see?

Survivor: Police deployed in the village told women and children in the village that they will be sent to Sittwe, suggesting they bring their belongings. Some people entered the village to see the situation, but I didn’t go to the village. 

Some people who visited the village told me that their money and gold items left behind in their homes were looted. All homes in the village were broken into and all valuable things were looted by the junta soldiers. Junta soldiers drove all residents out of the village and stole mobile phones, gold items and money on May 29. In addition, the villagers said that only blood was found in the streets and houses of the village. I don’t know how the soldiers killed the men of the village.

DMG: What do the escaped men have to say?

Survivor: An elderly escapee told us that when the junta soldiers arrested and beat the men in the village, a military officer said, ‘I flew a long way to kill you.’

DMG: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Survivor: Dozens of people in the village were killed by the junta soldiers. Village women were widowed and lost their children because junta soldiers killed their husbands and children. We will never forget the tragic day that happened before our eyes.