Eight Arakan State civilians killed by junta artillery strikes in single day

By Admin 13 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
13 January 2024, Sittwe

Eight civilians were killed and 13 others were injured by junta artillery strikes across five townships in Arakan State on Friday, according to residents. Children were among the victims.

Five civilians in Minbya and one each in Kyauktaw, Maungdaw and Myebon were killed while six in Minbya, three in Maungdaw and two each in Kyauktaw and Rathedaung were injured.

Pike Thel (Muslim) Village in Minbya Township was hit by a junta artillery strike at around 5 p.m. on Friday, immediately killing a man and a woman. Two children, ages 13 and 6, were seriously injured, and the 13-year-old died at around 5 a.m. on Saturday morning.

U Tun Aye Hlaing, 37, from Kyaung Shae Chaung Village in Minbya Township was also killed by a junta artillery strike at around 2 p.m. on Friday.

The AA has been attacking junta battalions in Minbya town since January 10, and the regime has been deliberately shelling civilian villages in response to the AA’s attacks.

“I heard shelling the whole night last night. I could not sleep,” said a woman from Minbya.
A 76-year-old man in Minbya town’s Htamariz Ward was killed by a junta artillery strike on Friday evening. Three of his neighbours were injured.

In Letpan Village, Kyauktaw Township, a 70-year-old woman was killed and two others including a 5-year-old boy were injured.

In Maungdaw Township, a 25-year-old woman was killed, and three others including an 11-year-old boy were injured. In Rathedaung Township, two civilians including a 15-year-old girl were injured.

A 65-year-old man was killed by a junta artillery strike in Thayettaung Village, Kanhtaunggyi town, Myebon Township.

One Kangtaunggyi town resident said: “Junta soldiers from Kazonekaing Mountain fire shells daily on Kanhtaunggyi town and surrounding villages. We have concerns for our safety as they shell every day.”

At least 80 Arakan State residents were killed and 234 others were injured by junta air, artillery and drone strikes in the two months since renewed fighting broke out on November 13, according to a DMG tally.

“Civilian casualties are inevitable when fighting breaks out. People suffer a lot. There is a need for the two warring sides to protect the civilians,” said an Arakan State resident.

International humanitarian law bans attacks on civilians and intenntional destruction of civilian property and possessions. The war zone has been expanding in Arakan State, with the Myanmar military and the AA fighting in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Ann, Kyaukphyu, Ramree, Taungup townships and in neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township.