Deadly gunfire mars ordination ceremony in Ponnagyun Township

By Myo Thiri Kyaw 19 Mar 2020

Myo Thiri Kyaw | DMG
March 19, Ponnagyun

A woman was killed and a boy injured when gunfire riddled a tent set up for an ordination ceremony in Ponnagyun Township’s Latmasait village on March 18, according to relatives of the deceased.

While monks summoned the family arranging the ordination and its guests into the tent at around noon, the sound of gunfire rang out and those in attendance fled to a nearby school. But Ma Aye May Soe, 27, was hit and killed by a projectile of uncertain origin.

“There was continuous firing from small arms and heavy weapons. An artillery shell landed near where we hid. We don’t know whether she was hit by small arms fire or a piece of artillery shell. She collapsed and died on the spot,” U Thar Zan Aung, the brother-in-law of the deceased, told DMG.

Ma Aye May Soe had returned to Arakan State’s Ponnagyun Township from Thailand only three days earlier for the family ordination ceremony.

“Everyone is sad for her. Even we men felt heartbroken and cried,” said U Tun Hla Sein, a member of the victim’s family.

According to village custom, ordination ceremonies and funerals should not be held together at a household so Ma Aye Mya Soe was buried immediately and the ordination ceremony was held the following morning as planned.

Amyotha Hluttaw lawmaker U Khin Maung Latt and family member U Thar Zan Aung said that the shots fired on Wednesday came from a Tatmadaw naval vessel stationed on the nearby Kaladan River.

Regarding that accusation, DMG attempted to contact Colonel Win Zaw Oo of the military’s Western Command, and Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun from the Tatmadaw True News Information Team, but neither of them could be reached for comment.

“The authorities have a responsibility to look after the public and should not hurt them. If needed, just attack each other, not the public,” U Khin Maung Latt said.

Locals said that one house was damaged, while several cows and pigs were killed and injured, by the firearms unleashed on Latmasait village.

According to the Arakan Students Union (Universities - Yangon), by December more than 130 people had been killed and over 360 were injured due to landmines, gunshots and artillery fire as conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) continues to plague western Myanmar. Dozens more civilian casualties have since been reported.