“SagaingRegion, Tanintharyi Region”

 NarinjaraNews, March 17, 2023

Military Council troops committed four heinous massacres inSagaing Region, Tanintharyi Region, and southern Shan State, resulting in the tragic loss of 52 lives, said U AungMyo Min, Union Minister for Human Rights of the National Unity Government (NUG).

U Aung Myo Min released the information at the March 16thpress conference regarding the massacre that took place in Namneng village located inPinlaung Township, which is situated in southernShan State.

“The perpetration of such massacres is a crime againsthumanity. In regions such as Tanintharyi, Karenni, Chin, Sagaing, and Magway, the deployment ofnumerous troops and military armaments, includingtanks, to assault civilians is an unequivocal war crime”, the Ministeremphasized.

On March 2nd, 17 villagers lost their lives in a horrifickilling in Tartaing village, Myinmu Township, Sagaing Region.

The following day, on March 3rd, 6 villagers were killed inKyeekan (south) village, WetletTownship, Sagaing Region, while on March 4th, 6 more villagers were brutally murdered in Aukkyaukwut village,Launglon Township, Tanintharyi Region.

These atrocities are partof a pattern of massacres being perpetrated across the country by the MilitaryCouncil, as highlighted by U AungMyo Min. The recent killing of 22 people inNamneng village on March 11th, is another grim reminder of the escalating violence in Myanmar.

The Minister stated that multiple re-examinations werecarried out in collaboration with field inspection teams, to confirm the occurrence of themassacres. These findings were then submitted to international organizations, who conducted additionalverifications. He also confirmed plans toconduct face-to-face inquiries as a follow up. 

In recent weeks, the Military Council has intensifiedmilitary operations in civilian areas across Karenni, Sagaing, Chin, and Magway Regions. This includesthe deployment of additional weapons and troops, raising concerns for the safety andwell-being of local populations.

In aditionally, the MilitaryCouncil has also imposed martial law in many townships, with reports of severe human rights violations andextrajudicial killings by military personnel. NUG also warned that it isessential for the local public toremain vigilant in the face of these developments.

NUG defines any incident that involves the killing of atleast five civilians as a massacre. 

Under the Military Council’s rule following the coup, a total of 64 massacres werecommitted across the country fromJuly 2021 to March 2023. These incidents resulted in the deaths of 766civilians, NUG’s Ministry ofHuman Rights announced on March 15th.