Three houses torched from artillery fire

By Cha Lu Aung 29 Aug 2019

Cha Lu Aung/ DMG

29 August, Maungdaw

Artillery shells landed in U Yin Tha and Sin Thay Byin village in Buthidaung Township this afternoon resulting in three houses going up in flames.

An Amyotha Hluttaw representative for Buthidaung Township U Maung Kyaw Zan said that he had known that some houses were burnt due to artillery shells launched by No. 551 Regiment in Buthidaung Township according to the report of local residents.

“I have been informed that two houses from U Yin Tha village and a Muslim house in Sin Thay Byin village were on fire due to heavy weapons fired from No. 551 Regiment this afternoon,” the lawmaker said.

There was an exchange of gunfire at about 3 p.m. near Sin Thay Byin village, a villager said.

“Both sides have exchanged fire. Sa Kha Ka 15 and Regiment 551 shot several rounds of heavy weapons,” said Mahmed Arli from Sin Thay Byin village.

Local residents from Htaik Too Pauk village also said that gunfire came from a hill near Thonzetit Bone Pagoda.

The head of Western Command Colonel Win Zaw Oo, however, said that there was no fighting and gunfire in Buthidaung Township.

“It is correct there was fighting on 28 August. But, there was no fighting today. And there was no gunfire. It was a crash of thunder,” Colonel Win Zaw Oo said.

Two Muslim women received injuries due to an artillery shell that landed in Sin Thay Byin village on 28 August.

Ma Rawta Baygun, 20, and Ma Laila Baygun, 18, were injured and sent to Buthidaung hospital by the government’s health care department and ICRC on the afternoon of 29 August.

On 28 August, there were two clashes in Buthidaung Township, one in near Khaung Taik village and another one between Kyar Nyo Byin and Kin Taung villages, the AA announced.