In Myanmar, 200 massacres reported since April 2022

By Admin 02 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
2 November 2024, Mrauk-U

Burma News International (BNI) has reported that there were 200 incidents that qualified as massacres — defined as involving five civilian casualties or more — between April 1, 2022, and October 25 of this year.

The regime was responsible for 185 massacres, or approximately 92 percent of the total, according to BNI. People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) committed two massacres and the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Army (ARSA) committed a massacre, and it was not possible to determine which group perpetrated the remaining 6 percent (12 massacres), according to the November 1 report from BNI.

In what was described as one of the worst massacres so far this year, the regime killed dozens of civilians in Sagaing Region’s Budalin Village last month.

“Junta soldiers mutilated the bodies of civilians, showing their inhumanity,” BNI said.

Sagaing Region saw 58 massacres, or 29 percent of the total, in which 645 civilians were killed, according to the BNI report. The number was second highest in Arakan State, which saw 30 massacres in which 367 civilians were killed.

There were at least 10 massacres each in northern Shan State, Kachin State and Magwe Region, said BNI.

Burmese Women’s Union General Secretary Naw Khin San Htwe said: “Regardless of their race and location, people in Myanmar have suffered from the worst forms of human rights violations since the coup. Women and children have suffered more.”

The regime has increasingly committed massacres this year, responsible for perpetrating 94 incidents involving five or more civilian casualties from January to October 25, which accounted for nearly 50 percent of the total massacres committed over the two-plus years documented, according to BNI.