Five civilians killed, 10 injured in junta airstrike on village in AA-held Paletwa Twsp

By Admin 22 May 2024

DMG Newsroom
22 May 2024, Paletwa, Chin State

Five civilians were killed and 10 others were injured in a junta airstrike on Taronai Village, part of Chin State’s Paletwa Township held by the Arakkha Army (AA), on Tuesday.

The civilian casualties were reported after a junta jet fighter dropped bombs on Taronai Village three times on the evening of May 21, local residents said.

“Many civilians were killed as the junta jet fighter opened fire on a local bazaar. The regime deliberately attacked the civilians. Some people were injured seriously,” said a source.

The five deceased have been identified as U Aung Tun, 67, U Maung Thein Naing, 31, U Aung Kyaw Nyunt, 33, Daw Hla Khaing Oo, 47, and Ma Sandar, 17.

Since renewed fighting kicked off in November, the AA has so far seized effective control of nine townships in Arakan State as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State. Civilian casualties continue to rise as the regime has been bombing towns and villages held by the AA.

“As the regime can no longer win against other armed groups, it targets the people and commits cowardly acts and war crimes,” said a human rights activist in Arakan State.

Mass casualty events of non-combatant civilians are on the rise as the regime, which has been losing ground on multiple fronts across the country in its war against opponents of military rule, has been increasingly carrying out aerial bombardments.