Military-resistance hostilities kill 73 civilians in two weeks: research group

By Admin 29 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
29 April 2024, Sittwe

Dozens of civilians were killed by the armed conflicts between Myanmar’s military regime and resistance forces during the period from April 10 to 23, BNI-Myanmar Peace Monitor said in a recent report. Most of the victims were from Arakan State.

A total of 73 civilians — 17 from Arakan State, seven each from Kachin State and Sagaing Region, six each from Kayah State and Mandalay Region, one each from Ayeyarwady and Tanintharyi regions, four from Mon State, two from Magway Region, three from Kayin State and 14 from Bago Region — were killed in military-resistance hostilities, BNI-Myanmar Peace Monitor said.

Civilian casualties are on the rise as the regime increasingly fires heavy weapons and carries out airstrikes on towns held by the Arakkha Army (AA).

“The regime lost many towns and could not stand it. Civilian casualties are reported as the regime is constantly carrying out airstrikes on townships controlled by the AA,” said a human rights activist in Arakan State.

Fighting has been raging in Arakan State for more than five months, with the AA seizing large swaths of Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Pauktaw, Myebon and Ramree townships, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.

A total of 179 civilians were killed and 486 were injured between November 13 of last year and March 21, according to the AA’s Humanitarian and Development Cooperation Office.

Children, the elderly, middle-aged and married people are among those who were killed and injured during the fighting.

“If a family does not have a breadwinner, the family’s livelihood, health, and education become difficult. I don’t want civilians to be targeted in the middle of a war between the two sides. These are also proscribed by the laws of war,” said a social activist in Arakan State.

Fierce clashes are currently reported in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Ann and Thandwe townships, with civilians being killed and homes destroyed by junta shellings and airstrikes.

Customary international humanitarian law requires any armed organisation to protect civilians and bars them from attacking, abducting and using civilians as human shields or targeting civilian houses.