68 civilian casualties reported in latest Arakan State hostilities

By Admin 23 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
23 November 2023, Sittwe

At least 68 civilian casualties have been reported to date in Arakan State and in neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township during latest hostilities between the military and Arakan Army (AA).

Fifteen people were killed and 53 others were injured in the latest Arakan State fighting, according to a DMG tally. Among the casualties are more than 30 men, 20 women and 11 children.

The 15 deaths included five in Minbya, four in Paletwa, three in Mrauk-U, two in Kyauktaw and one in Ann Township.

Among the injured are 20 people from Minbya, three each in Mrauk-U and Myebon, four in Kyauktaw, seven in Ann, on each in Maungdaw, Ponnagyun, Buthidaung and Rathedaung and 12 from Paletwa.

The civilian casualties were reported largely due to the junta’s indiscriminate shelling and airstrikes, according to local people.

“Who would have thought that a person would be hit by a bullet while walking without fighting? It is an inhumane act for junta soldiers to shoot civilians walking peacefully on the street,” said a resident of Mrauk-U.

Two people were killed and three others were injured after a civilian vehicle and a three-wheeled motorbike were attacked in Mrauk-U, Arakan State, on the morning of November 13. The vehicle and three-wheeled motorbike were fired upon in Myinkhontan Ward at an entrance to Mrauk-U and two out of four people in the civilian vehicle were killed on the spot, while two others were seriously wounded.

Four people were killed and 12 others including children were injured by junta artillery strikes on three villages in Minbya Township on November 14.

“It is not clear whether the junta is fighting the AA or the people. If the junta is fighting against the people, they [the people] will have to suffer because the people have no weapons,” said a resident in Apaukwa Village, Kyauktaw Township.

The list of civilian casualties does not include the dead and wounded from Pauktaw, where the fighting is fierce. DMG has reported that there were about 20 dead and injured people in Pauktaw, but it was difficult to get accurate information from the ground, so it was omitted from the aggregate tally.

The regime committed war crimes targeting civilians in Arakan State during the previous fighting. Politicians say that civilians may face more targeting by the regime during the latest hostilities.

“The regime will target the people more than before. As the regime no longer has ground influence, they rely on jet fighters, warships and heavy weapons, and because they are shooting wherever they want, the public damage may be more than before,” said U Aung Thaung Shwe, a former Arakan State lawmaker for Buthidaung Township.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called on the armed groups in Myanmar directly engaged in fighting not to target civilians.

“Under humanitarian law, the civilian population in general is protected from dangers arising from military operations,” according to ICRC.  “However, some groups among the population, such as children, women, the elderly, persons with disabilities and displaced people, have specific needs and are entitled to special attention. Civilians can also expect, under humanitarian law, adequate care and respect.”