A woman sustains injury during night shelling in Mrauk-U

By Khin Tharaphy Oo 16 Mar 2019

Khin Tharaphy Oo/ DMG
March 16, Sittwe

A 50-year old woman from Mrauk-U sustained injuries during a night of heavy shelling on Friday.

Daw Khaing Khaing Thein from Kyauk Yit Kay ward got injured in her hip from an artillery blast near her house at about 10 p.m on March 15.

She was afraid to go to hospital because military members were in front of the pagoda near her house, the victim said.

“I felt I was struck with a hammer at my hip. It hit me once they started shelling. I woke my husband and children to hide under the house. I heard that soldiers were shouting to fire. I was scared and can’t stand well at that time,” she said.

After about 50 soldiers had patrolled around Mrauk-U in the evening, the sound of gunfire could be heard in the town at night, said an official from Mrauk-U Youth Association (MUYA).

“At about 10 p.m we heard the sound of a gunshot. People from our ward did not have experience about battles. They were scared and hid under their houses. It was not an exchange of gun fire. We can confirm that was the army attacking,” he said.

Col Win Zaw Oo said that the Tatmadaw troop shot back at members AA from the ward cemetery while they were conducting security operations surrounding a police station and township administration office on March 15.

“We returned fire. So, our firing might have hit residential area. We could not avoid it. If they attack us near houses, we shall have to shoot back at them near houses. If we are attacked near a monastery, we will return fire near the monastery. We never started a gun fight without being attacked. They assault us using the residential area as a shield,” he said.

The DMG contacted the AA’s information officer Khaing Thu Kha for comment regarding the remarks of the Tatmadaw, but he responded that “he was busy at the moment”.

Shells landed on Shithaung and Htokekan Thein pagodas in Maheingyi ward during the Tatmadaw’s firing. Shells also reached at Htammariz ward and one active artillery shell was slightly buried in the earth, said a local resident from Dhamariz ward, adding that they want authorities to clear these active shells for the safety of residents.

The bottom part of an ancient pagoda West Myede in Sin Cha Seik ward was slightly destroyed by an artillery shell.

The Advisory Commission on Rakhine State headed by Kofi Annan recommended to nominate Mrauk- U for UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi also said that the government was to try to ensure Mrauk-U region as a world heritage site.