Two villagers injured by gunfire targeting boat near Kazukaing Bridge

By Aung Htein 20 Aug 2020

Aung Htein | DMG
20 August, Ann 

Two out of three people travelling by boat from Kway Shay village in Arakan State’s Ann Township were reportedly injured when they were shot at near Kazukaing Bridge, locals said. 

Security personnel from a checkpoint near the bridge opened fire on the boat while the three men were travelling to Kanhtaukgyi town at about 8 p.m. on August 19, said Ko Myo Lwin, an Ann resident. 

“They didn’t start the engine of the boat near the bridge because they knew the military was stationed near the bridge. Security personnel from the military’s checkpoint first launched three heavy shells and small arms fire later,” he added. 

U Moe Aung, 48, received a gunshot wound to his left thigh while another man sustained a gunshot wound to his right thigh. 

The three villagers were reportedly fired upon while ferrying home appliances to a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs). 

Out of the two injured, U Moe Aung is said to be in critical condition and was transferred to Sittwe Hospital from Kanhtaukgyi Rural Hospital on the afternoon of August 20, according to a resident who assisted the victim. 

“His left femur was broken,” he said of U Moe Aung. “He cannot be treated at Kanhtaukgyi Hospital because his condition is considered life-threatening. So he was sent to Sittwe Hospital.” 

DMG phoned Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun and Maj-Gen Tun Tun Nyi from the Tatmadaw True News Information Team for comment on the incident, but they could not be reached. 

Kway Shay is part of the Dar Lat Chaung village-tract in Ann Township, which consists of about 40 villages where a majority of locals rely on the towns of Ann and Kanhtaukgyi for their livelihoods. 

In February, residents from Dar Lat Chaung village-tract reported facing food insecurity as they were prohibited by the military from transporting rice into the area. 

Two people were reportedly injured by gunfire from a Myanmar Army contingent near Kazukaing Bridge while travelling to Kanhtaukgyi town on July 13. A 27-year-old man from Kanhtaukgyi town named Ko Hsan Win Tun also sustained a gunshot wound after his boat ferrying passengers was fired upon by security personnel near Kazukaing Bridge on April 6.