Man injured, homes hit by artillery fire in Kyauktaw Twsp village

By Hnin Nwe 12 Oct 2020

Hnin Nwe | DMG
12 October 2020, Sittwe 

A Muslim man was injured and four homes were damaged or destroyed when artillery shells landed and exploded in Gotepihtaunt village, Kyauktaw Township, on October 11, according to locals. 

Artillery shells fired from a military vessel sailing along the Kaladan River in Arakan State fell in Gotepihtaunt village, said U Ba Sein, a leader of the local Muslim community. 

“Many residents were hiding themselves in bomb shelters or under houses as the military’s navy ship unleashed heavy weapons fire. The victim was injured when an artillery shell hit the roof of his home and exploded. We are always shot at by naval vessels because our village is close to the river,” he told DMG. 

The 22-year-old victim has been identified as Ko Mamouk Karthee. He sustained a shrapnel wound to his right hip and is receiving medical treatment in the village, U Ba Sein said. 

In addition, three houses in Gotepihtaunt Village were damaged by Sunday’s artillery barrage, according to locals. 

A fourth home was destroyed by heavy weapons fire on the morning of October 12, said U Kyaw Sein Hla, the Gotepihtaunt Village administrator. 

“The military’s navy vessel directed heavy weapons fire at the residential areas along the river. Some homes were damaged by artillery shells. The roof of a house in the village was split in two parts after being fired upon by the Tatmadaw navy vessel,” he added. 

DMG phoned Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun and Brig-Gen Ye Yint Aung of the Tatmadaw True News Information Team for comment on the shelling, but they could not be reached. 

At a press conference on September 26, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun insisted that the Tatmadaw navy would not militarily engage without cause. 

According to the Center for Rural Research and Development, 208 civilians were injured due to the artillery and small arms fire in Kyauktaw Township between January 2019 and September 2020.