Narinjara News, March 15, 2023

According to local residents, civil society organizations in the area are planning to file a lawsuit regarding the case of 30 individuals including 3 monks, who were reportedly killed by the Military Council troops in Nam Nein Village of Pinlaung Township, located in the Shan State.

U Banyar, Director of the Karenni Human Rights Group, told the Narinjara news agency, “We cannot allow these killings to continue. We are reaching out to civil society organizations in Shan State and following the UN process to ensure that this matter is properly prosecuted on an international level. Our focus is on achieving accountability and responsibility, as well as preventing similar atrocities from occurring in the future and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.”

According to KNDF, on March 10, the Military Council troops initiated an offensive operation on Nam Nein village. On March 11 at 5:00 a.m., airstrikes were launched. Fearing for their safety, residents sought refuge in the Nam Nein village monastery.

The Military Council troops entered the monastery forced those seeking refuge to line up outside the monastery and deployed the methods of a firing squad, to shoot all 30 residents, including the  three monks.

U Aung Myo Min, the Human Rights Minister of the National Unity Government (NUG), told Narinjara that these incidents constitute a flagrant violation of human rights and war crimes, and are being reported in a timely manner to the United Nations and the international court.

“We are endeavoring to take action against the dictatorship and military officials who are violating human rights, and committing various crimes under international law. Whether acting individually or as a coalition, we are tirelessly working to bring them to justice in a timely manner. We are unwavering in our efforts and work towards this goal every day,” he said.

KNDF asserted “We will work closely with civil organizations from Shan State and Kayah State to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous act are brought to justice in international courts. This is a mass war crime against humanity.”

According to KNDF’s statement, on the evening of March 11, when troops from the Military Council entered the village and committed killings, Karenni armed groups such as KNDF, PDF, and KA were in the vicinity. However, they were unable to intervene due to their insufficient strength to enter the village. The KNDF said that they were only able to access the village on the morning of March 12 and discovered the deceased bodies inside the monastery.

As a response to the Military Council troops’ actions, the KNDF, KA, South Shan PDF, PDF Pekon, PDF Mobye, and DMO PDF (who arrived to provide assistance) are reported to be engaging in counterattacks.

Khu Nye Reh, an officer of the Karenni Military Information Center, has stated that, based on

reports from the front lines, there is currently a high state of tension between the Military Council troops, and regional revolutionary armed forces in the area.

“ Our comrades and the troops of the Military Council keep fighting on the eastern side of Pekon at the Shan-Kayah border, following the events in Pinlaung. Pinlaung is situated in southern Shan State, which is just an hour’s drive away from the Kayah border,” he stated.

On December 24, 2021, troops from the Military Council carried out a brutal attack similar to the

one that occurred in Nam Nein Village, Pinlaung Township. This time, the incident took place in

Moso Village, Hpruso Township, Kayah (Karenni) State, and resulted in the merciless killing of 49 individuals, among them two members of Save the Children, as well as women and children.

On March 2, Military Council troops carried out a brutal massacre in Tartaing Village, Myinmu

Township, Sagaing Region, resulting in the merciless killing of 17 local villagers. According to residents and civil organizations, this type of incident is becoming an all too common occurrence

under the rule of the Military Council.