Villagers flee homes following Tatmadaw’s inspection

By Myat Win Kyaw 16 Nov 2019

Myat Win Kyaw | DMG
16 November, Kyauktaw
 
The Tatmadaw has questioned local residents from Thayet Tabin village in Kyauktaw Township since 14 November, forcing villagers flee to other places including Kyauktaw town.

After a military troop was caught in a bomb attack on the afternoon of 13 November on Yangon-Sittwe road near the village, military personnel and police visited villages nearby the attack and arrested four local residents on 14 November.

The AA announced that five military personnel including the commanding officer from No. 374 Light Infantry Battalion based at Kyauktaw town were killed and injured, but the Tatmadaw denied it.

But, Lt-Col Yan Naung Win, the commanding officer, was from No.44 Batch of the Defence Services Academy and was killed, according to Facebook pages of his relatives and pro-military community.

The cooperative team of the Tatmadaw and police force arrested Nay Myo Tun (aka) Aung Paing fron Thayet Tabin village, Maung Kala from Thayet Tabin (Pyin Hla) village, Nyi Nyi Soe from Ywar Ma Pyin village and Maung Kyi Linn from Saba Seik village.

Villagers have been fleeing from home until 16 November and some elderly villagers remained in the village, local residents said.

“The Tatmadaw have infiltrated the village, they’re on roads questioning travelers.  They might arrest us,” a female villager of Thayet Tabin said.

Local residents also said that soldiers and police searched houses and residents had to sign a letter saying their property was not taken by soldiers and police. They came and searched according to the check-list with the names of villagers, villagers said.
 
“Only elderly people have left in the village. All younger villagers fled from home,” an identified villager said.

Colonel Win Zaw Oo from the Western Command told the DMG on 15 November said that the search in Thayet Tabin village tract has been conducted based on a tip about the AA.

Related Post : Tatmadaw detains four Kyauktaw residents after being attacked by AA