Junta troops accused of killing three civilians detained as human shields in Mrauk-U

By Admin 10 Jan 2024

DMG Newsroom
10 January 2024, Mrauk-U

Junta troops killed three civilians that it had detained as human shields in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U town, according to local residents.

Around 50 junta troops from the Mrauk-U-based Battalion No. 540 and the Arakan Army (AA) clashed at Thakya Manaung Pagoda on Tuesday in Mrauk-U town. At least 15 junta soldiers were killed in the fighting, and several others were injured, according to the AA. DMG could not independently verify casualties.

As junta troops retreated into the town following the fighting, they reportedly abducted three civilians to use as human shields. Junta troops then killed the three, according to a Mrauk-U resident.

The three victims were identified as U San Shwe Kyaw, 52, U Tun Tun Oo, 35 and his brother Ko Saw Naing Tun, 28.

International humanitarian laws ban warring sides from holding civilians hostage or using them as human shields or committing extrajudicial killings.

The AA said it would retaliate against Light Infantry Battalion No. 540 for war crimes it has committed against civilians in the town.

The battalion also carried out a campaign of continuous bombardment on Tuesday evening, killing a civilian and wounding three others, including a 7-year-old girl.

U Me Naung Che, 60, from Sin Cha Seik Ward, was killed. “A bullet penetrated through his chest, and he died immediately, and the child was injured in her face,” said another Mrauk-U resident.
Battalion Nos. 377, 378 and 540 in Mrauk-U fired shells from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning, said residents.

The AA has seized the Mrauk-U district police station, Myaungbwe police station and a strategic junta position on Mount Thin Kyit in Mrauk-U Township.